View source for Dungeness River

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Dungeness River
| name_native        = 
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<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = 
| image_caption      = 
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| map_size           = 300
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = USA Washington
| pushpin_map_size   = 300
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the Dungeness River in Washington
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = United States
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = County
| subdivision_name4  = [[Clallam County, Washington|Clallam]], [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson]]
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| length             = {{convert|28|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=gnis/> 
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Olympic Mountains]]
| source1_location   = 
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|47|48|19|N|123|10|0|W|display=inline}}<ref name=gnis/>
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]
| mouth_location     = 
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|48|9|3|N|123|8|8|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
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}}

The '''Dungeness River''' is a {{convert|28|mi|km|adj=on}} long<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1528593|Dungeness River}}</ref> river located in the [[Olympic Peninsula]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. It rises near [[Mount Constance]] in the [[Olympic Mountains]] within the [[Olympic National Park]], flows through the [[Buckhorn Wilderness]], passes by the town of [[Sequim, Washington|Sequim]], and empties into the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] at [[Dungeness Bay]], behind the [[Dungeness Spit]].<ref>{{GNIS|1519006|Dungeness Bay}}</ref> One of its main tributaries is the [[Gray Wolf River]]. It is crossed by the [[Dungeness River Bridge]].

==History==
The river was named for Dungeness Spit. The name "Dungeness" refers to the [[Dungeness (headland)|Dungeness]] headland in [[England]]. It was given by [[George Vancouver]] in 1792, who wrote: ''The low sandy point of land, which from its great resemblance to Dungeness in the British Channel, I called New Dungeness.''<ref>{{cite book |last= Phillips |first= James W. |title= Washington State Place Names |url= https://archive.org/details/washingtonstatep00phil |url-access= registration |year= 1971 |publisher= University of Washington Press |isbn= 0-295-95158-3}}</ref>

The Dungeness River, along with the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]], is part of only two river basins in Washington state that are granted protections and rights under "in-stream flow regulation". Passed in 1976, the law allows the river the right to maintain its own water levels.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vander Stoep |first1=Isabel |title=Headwaters to Harbor: What are Water Rights? Why Does Lewis County Care? |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/headwaters-to-harbor-what-are-water-rights-why-does-lewis-county-care,294500 |access-date=July 25, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
Scarborough Island is a small [[eyot]] (river island) in the Dungeness River, in [[Sequim, Washington]]. About one acre square, it is located near Dungeness Meadows and can be seen from the Dungeness River Dike.{{cn|date=July 2020}}

==See also==
*[[List of Washington rivers]]
*[[Dungeness crab]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Rivers of Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Rivers of Clallam County, Washington]]
[[Category:Rivers of Jefferson County, Washington]]


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