Cle Elum River

Cle Elum River
Cle Elum River north of Cle Elum Lake
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
RegionKittitas County
CityCle Elum
Physical characteristics
SourceCascade Range
  coordinates47°35′19″N 121°10′1″W / 47.58861°N 121.16694°W / 47.58861; -121.16694
  elevation6,115 ft (1,864 m)
MouthYakima River
  coordinates
47°10′37″N 120°59′49″W / 47.17694°N 120.99694°W / 47.17694; -120.99694
  elevation
1,990 ft (610 m)
Length28 mi (45 km)
Discharge 
  locationRoslyn, Washington
  average945 cuft/s
Basin features
Tributaries 
  rightWaptus River, Cooper River

The Cle Elum River is a tributary of the Yakima River, approximately 28 miles (45 km) long in the U.S. state of Washington. A Northern Pacific Railway station at the future site of the city of Cle Elum, Washington was named Clealum after the Kittitas name Tie-el-Lum, meaning "swift water", referring to the Cle Elum River. In 1908, Clealum was altered to Cle Elum. This spelling came to be used for the river as well. Some maps in the 1850s also have the river labeled as Samahma River.