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Steep Creek SalmonCam
Did you know that:
- Alaska is one of the most important wild salmon producing areas
worldwide. It accounts for 35%-49% of the total wild salmon harvest
per year.
- Pacific salmon are anadromous,
which means they spend the early portion of their life in fresh water,
migrate to salt water to mature, then return to fresh water to spawn
and die.
- Some salmon stocks travel thousands of miles in open ocean before
returning to spawn. Others travel only short distances and stay close
to shore.
- Salmon are capable of vertical leaps up to 10 feet.
- In some streams, salmon runs are so thick you couldn't walk across
without stepping on them.
- It is believed that Pacific salmon are descended from rainbow trout.
- Salmon are considered adaptable and capable of strong and healthy
runs, provided their habitat remains healthy.
- With their acute sense of smell, salmon can detect one drop of water
from their natal stream in 250 gallons of sea water.
- Salmon have a "lateral line" on their side that helps
them detect the presence of food and predators. It is theorized the
lateral line aids in their navigation by picking up small electrical
potentials across the currents, providing them with directional clues.
- Salmon have 300 degrees of vision, which means they can see in every
direction except directly behind them.
- Between 30-50% of Pacific salmon caught in the wild originated from
hatcheries.
- Often, only 1/10 of 1% of salmon eggs laid by a single female salmon
will survive and return as adults to spawn.
- Salmon carcasses distribute nutrients to land, ocean, and river
systems.
- Biologists have found that over 130 species of animals depend on
salmon as part of their diet.
- Glaciers have played a huge role in sculpting salmon habitat for
thousands of years and provide a constant source of fresh water for
current salmon runs.
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