The Ksi Sii Aks (/sɛsˈsæks/; formerly Tseax River /ˈsæks/) is a tributary of the Nass River in northwestern British Columbia, Canada.[1][6] It is most notable as the namesake of Tseax Cone, a volcano within its basin that was responsible for an eruption in the 17th century that killed 2,000 Nisgaʼa people. Prior to the eruption, the Nisgaʼa name for this river was Ksi Gimwitsʼax.[1] Buried by the eruption, it eventually resurfaced. The Nisgaʼa recognized it as the same stream but renamed it Ksi Sii Aks: sii aks means "new body of water".[1]

Ksi Sii Aks
Ksi Sii Aks
Ksi Sii Aks is located in British Columbia
Ksi Sii Aks
Mouth of Ksi Sii Aks
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictCassiar Land District
Physical characteristics
SourceNass Ranges
 • locationHazelton Mountains
 • coordinates54°59′13″N 128°55′15″W / 54.98694°N 128.92083°W / 54.98694; -128.92083[2]
 • elevation1,310 m (4,300 ft)[3]
MouthNass River
 • coordinates
55°13′20″N 129°6′24″W / 55.22222°N 129.10667°W / 55.22222; -129.10667[1]
 • elevation
29 m (95 ft)[3]
Length45 km (28 mi)[4]
Basin size610 km2 (240 sq mi)[5]
Discharge 
 • average21 m3/s (740 cu ft/s)[5]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftPoupard Creek, May Creek, Alder Creek, Aquila Creek, Auk Creek
 • rightTumbling Creek, Jay Creek, Crater Creek, Bubo Creek, Canard Creek, Eider Creek, Teal Creek, Fulmar Creek, McLeod Creek, Gitzyon Creek, Gingit Creek
Topo map103I14 Oscar Peak
103I15 Kitsumkalum Lake
103P2 Lava Lake
103P3 Tseax River

As prescribed by terms of the Nisgaʼa Treaty, the Tseax River was officially renamed the Ksi Sii Aks on 11 May 2000.[6]

Ksi Sii Aks flows about 45 km (28 mi) north to the Nass River.[4] From its source near Sand Lake the river flows through Sand Lake,[7] Gainor Lake,[8] and Lava Lake.[9] It collects many tributary streams, the largest of which are Poupard Creek,[10] May Creek,[11] Alder Creek,[12] Crater Creek,[13] Auk Creek,[14] and Gitzyon Creek.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ksi Sii Aks". BC Geographical Names.
  2. ^ Derived using BCGNIS, topographic maps and TopoQuest.
  3. ^ a b Elevation derived from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model, using GeoLocator, BCGNIS coordinates, and topographic maps.
  4. ^ a b Length measured using Google Maps path tool, BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, and TopoQuest.
  5. ^ a b "Northwest Water Tool". BC Water Tool. GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  6. ^ a b "Tseax River". BC Geographical Names.
  7. ^ "Sand Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  8. ^ "Gainor Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  9. ^ "Lava Lake". BC Geographical Names.
  10. ^ "Poupard Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  11. ^ "May Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  12. ^ "Alder Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  13. ^ "Crater Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  14. ^ "Auk Creek". BC Geographical Names.
  15. ^ "Gitzyon Creek". BC Geographical Names.