Where Does Chinook Salmon Live?

Chinook Salmon lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Chinook Salmon

Water type

brackish

Depth

Ocean phase: surface to 200 meters (650 feet) or more. Freshwater phase: shallow, gravel-bottomed rivers and streams for spawning and rearing.

Environment

Anadromous; requires cold, clear, well-oxygenated freshwater rivers and streams for spawning and juvenile rearing, and productive, cold marine environments for feeding and growth.

Geographic range

Native to the North Pacific Ocean and its tributary rivers, from the Sacramento River in California north to the Yukon River in Alaska, and across to the Asian coast from Hokkaido, Japan, to the Anadyr River in Siberia. Introduced to other regions, including the Great Lakes and Patagonia.

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