Gunnison River
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The Gunnison River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 180 mi (290 km) long, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
It rises in west central Colorado, in eastern Gunnison County, formed by the confluence of Taylor and East River rivers. Just past the town of Gunnison, the river begins to swell into the expanse of Blue Mesa Reservoir, a 40 mile long reservoir formed by Blue Mesa Dam, where it receives the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Just downstream it is dammed again to form Morrow Point Reservoir, then just downstream of that dammed for the final time to form Crystal Reservoir. The reservoirs produce hydroelectric power and supply water for the surrounding ares for both municipal and irrigation use. The reservoirs are the upper part of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of the longest, narrowest, and deepest gorges in the world. Below Crystal Dam it begins to roar through massive cataracts and flows through the deepest part of the gorge. At the outlet of the canyon it receives the North Fork River, then downstream near Delta is joined by the Uncompahgre River. It then winds through desert canyonlands until it empties into the Colorado near Grand Junction, carrying almost as much water as the former.
The Gunnison River ranges in width from 100 - 1000 feet and 3 - 50 feet in depth. The river's powerful current and many rapids make upstream travel nearly impossible. It is navigable for small craft throughout it's course and by larger boats below the Black Canyon.
Part of the river's water is diverted to irrigate the Uncompahgre Valley via the 5 mi (8 km) long Gunnison Tunnel, which was built between 1905 and 1909.
Dams
References
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