- Lost River (California)
The Lost River is a river in northern
California and southwesternOregon in theUnited States , approximately 70 mi (113 km) long. The river flows within an enclosed basin on thevolcanic plateau southwest of theKlamath River watershed. Its waters provide irrigation in a farming and ranching region along the California-Oregon border.It rises in two forks in northern
Modoc County, California west of Goose Lake in theModoc National Forest . The short North Fork and South Fork, each approximately 20 mi (32 km) long, flow west and join east of theClear Lake Reservoir . The combined stream flows through the Clear Lake Reservoir, then flows in a northward loop through southernKlamath County, Oregon , re-entering California approximately 20 mi (32 km) southeast of Klamath Falls. It enters the north end of intermittentTule Lake , approximately 7 mi (13 km) south of the Oregon-California border.The lower reaches of the river near Tule Lake cross a ranching valley where the water of the river is diverted into multiple canals and ditches for
irrigation as part of theKlamath Reclamation Project . The ditches intermingle with those of the nearbyKlamath River at the northwest end of the valley.During the mid-1800s, the river was used as the route of a portion of the
Applegate Trail , a trail intended as a safer alternative to the main route of theOregon Trail .The river was the traditional home of the
Modoc during the 19th century. In November 1872 it was the site of theBattle of Lost River , the first battle of theModoc War .
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