Talk:Revelstoke, British Columbia

Latest comment: 17 years ago by Pfly in topic Death Rapids

Untitled edit

Copied across from mis-spaced page Revelstoke,British Columbia (now a redirect):


Revelstoke is a city of approximately 8,125 people in British Columbia, Canada. It lies on the Columbia River between the Monashee Mountains to the west and the Selkirk Mountains to the east. The Trans-Canada Highway passes through this city.

Economy edit

The forest industry is Revelstoke's largest employer, accounting for 21% of basic employment. Transportation accounts for 16% of employment income. Other significant income sources include electrical generation, tourism, and service industries.

The government of British Columbia has approved plans for the development of a $1-Billion world-class Ski Reseort. Constuction on the ski trails began in the Summer of 2005*

Reference edit


Some of the stats differ - can someone familiar with the place please merge in any additional info here - MPF 00:13, 6 December 2005 (UTC)Reply

The stats do differ, and the last census data is from 2000. The city uses an estimate of 7,500 currently for persons living with the municipal boundaries, and I have updated the page to show that. Estimates also vary due to different conceptions of Revelstoke's population - there are many people who live just outside of the municipal boundary, but are still considered part of the city when calculations are made for health care funding and other services. Mokwella 22:14, 28 December 2005 (UTC)Reply

Snow edit

The average yearly snow total seems to be incorrect. The City of Revelstoke website indicates an average of only 398cm of snow a year.

Death Rapids edit

Today I was reading about the history of Washington State and came across a reference to "Death Rapids (Revelstoke)". That's all there was to the mention. Anyone know what this refers to? An intriguing name.. was there a Columbia River rapids at Revelstoke by that name.. perhaps submerged by Revelstoke Dam? Pfly 07:18, 31 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

Some research seems to answer my question.. apparently there was a Death Rapids, or "Les Dalles du Mort"; now submerged beneath Lake Revelstoke... although http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=50400 points out: "This is NOT an Official Name". Huh.. so what is the official name of the ex-rapids? Pfly 07:57, 31 December 2006 (UTC)Reply

The Revelstoke dam was built at the "Little Dalles". The Dalles Du Mort or Death rapids are 40 miles upstream. Although now submerged they are below the Downie Slide area. The Downie slide is an unstable area which has been stablized by dewatering adits. Talking to someone who was familiar with the area before it was flooded, he said that the Dalles Du Mort were a result of the creeping slide causing a constriction in the river.

The Dalles Du Mort were named after a whole canoe load of fur traders (12 I think) were tipped and drown while negotiating the rapids in the first half of the 19th century. The Meti, who comprized most of the fur trader employees, where french speaking hence the french name for the rapids. Walter Moberly's book "Rocks and Rivers of British Columbia" has a good account of going through these rapids in the 1870's.