Page created on : January 12, 2003
Last updated : January 12, 2003

This wild, turbulent, savage river runs 1368 kilometres from its headwaters near Mount Robson in the Jasper region to the Pacific Ocean in the Vancouver-New Westminster area. Alexander Mackenzie of the North West Compagny was the first European to reach the river, but it is named after Simon Fraser, who first followed the river to its mouth.

It has seen gold rushes, revolts and settlement along its shores. It is a navigable waterway for part of its length and both the Candian National and Canadian Pacific Railways follow it through the mountains.

The Fraser River stamp shows the Lady Franklin Rock at the very mouth of the Fraser Canyon, and in a vignette we see a sockeye salmon.