Salt River

The Salt River is a tributary of the Gila River, approximately 200 miles long, in central Arizona in the United States.

What do you know about the Salt River?  Explore the Quick US Geography Rivers and Streams Quiz.  "Check Your Answers" at the end of the page.

1. The river is formed in eastern Arizona in eastern Gila County, by the confluence of the White and Black rivers, in the valley between the Mogollon Rim and the Natanes Plateau.

• True or False?

2. It forms the boundary between the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to the north. What is the reservation to the south?

• Papago Indian Reservation
• San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
• Gila River Indian Reservation

3. It flows northwest through Salt River Canyon, then southwest and west through the Tonto National Forest. It passes through the valley between the Mazatzal Mountains and Superstition Mountains. What is the legend that centers around the Superstition Mountains?

• Saint Joseph's Silver Mine
• Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine
• Diego's Spanish Gold Coins Lost

4. Theodore Roosevelt Dam is a dam on the Salt River located northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The dam is 357 feet high and renovated 1989 - 1996. The dam has a hydroelectric generating capacity of 36,000 kilowatt (kW). When was the dam built?

• 1905 - 1911
• 1915 - 1921
• 1925 - 1931

5. The Horse Mesa Dam is a concrete thin arch dam located Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The dam is 660 feet long, 300 feet high. The dam includes a 32,000 kilowatt (kW) hydroelectric generating unit. The dam forms the Apache Lake as it slows the passage of the Salt River. When was the dam built?

• 1924 - 1927
• 1934 - 1937
• 1944 - 1947

6. The Mormon Flat Dam is a dam on the Salt River located Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The dam is 380 feet long, 224 feet high and was built between 1923-25. There are two hydroelectric generating units in the dam; rated at 10,000 and 50,000 kilowatt (kW). The dam forms the Canyon Lake as it slows the passage of the Salt River. When was the dam built?

• 1913 - 1915
• 1923 - 1925
• 1933 - 1935

7. The Stewart Mountain Dam is a concrete thin arch dam located 41 miles Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The dam is 1260 feet long, 208 feet high. The dam includes a 13,000 kilowatt (kW) hydroelectric generating unit that operates primarily during the summer months. The dam forms the Saguaro reservoir as it slows the passage of the Salt River in Maricopa County, Arizona. When was the dam built?

• 1908 - 1910
• 1918 - 1920
• 1928 - 1930

8. The Granite Reef Diversion Dam is a concrete diversion dam located 22 miles Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona, on the Salt River. The dam is 1,000 feet long, 29 feet high and was built between 1906-09. The dam diverts most all water in the Salt River into canals serving the metro Phoenix area. The Salt River below is thus usually a trickle or dry except following rain or upstream runoff.

• True or False?

9. According to the Geographic Names Information System, what is NOT one of the other names the Salt River also been known as?

• Rio Salado
• Rio de la Asuncion
• Rio del la Granite

10. The Salt River joins the Gila on the southwestern edge of Phoenix approximately 15 miles from the center of the city. Monument Hill overlooks this confluence of rivers and is the site of the Initial Survey point for Arizona, the Gila and Salt River Meridian. What is the elevation?

• 908 feet
• 918 feet
• 928 feet

Salt River Answers

1. True
2. San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
3. Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine
4. 1905 - 1911
5. 1924 - 1927
6. 1923 - 1925
7. 1928 - 1930
8. True
9. Rio del la Granite
10. 928 feet

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