Kern River

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kern-river

1. How long is the Kern River?
2. How high is the Kern River?
3. What is the location?
4. What is the drainage pattern?
5. Where does the Kern River begin?
6. Why does the Kern River flow south instead of north like most rivers in the Sierra?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is the Kern River?Approximately 165 miles (270 km)
2. How high is the Kern River?Over 13,600 feet (4,100 m) near Mount Whitney
3. What is the location?Southern Sierra Nevada mountains, California, draining northeast of Bakersfield
4. What is the drainage pattern?Southerly, unique for a major Sierra Nevada river
5. Where does the Kern River begin?It starts high in the Sierra Nevada near Mount Whitney, above 13,600 feet, where snow melts into the river.
6. Why does the Kern River flow south instead of north like most rivers in the Sierra?It is the only major river in the Sierra that drains south, while most others flow north or west.

Hydrography: The study of the surface waters of an area, including rivers, lakes, and drainage patterns.
Endorheic Basin: A closed drainage basin that retains water and does not flow to the ocean, often characterized by internal lakes or salt flats.
Anthropogenic Modifications: Changes made to the natural environment by human activities, such as dam construction or water diversion.
Perennial Flow: A river or stream that flows continuously throughout the year, maintained by consistent water sources like snowmelt or groundwater.