Wishkah River
The Wishkah River is a tributary of the Chehalis River, approximately 40 miles (64 km) long[1], in the U.S. state of Washington. The river drains a remote rural area of approximately 102 square miles (260 km2)[2] in Grays Harbor County along the Washington coast north of Aberdeen. It flows south through Grays Harbor County and empties into the Chehalis at Aberdeen.
The name "Wishkah" is an adaptation of the Chehalis Indian word hwish-kahl, meaning "stinking water".[3]
In popular culture
Nirvana's "Nevermind" album in reference to this river "Something in the way" where the lead singer Kurt Cobain lived under a bridge during his days of homelessness after dropping out of high school. One third of the cremated remains of the band's lead singer Kurt Cobain were scattered in the river after his death. He indicated that when he was kicked out of his mother's house, he sometimes lived under a bridge which went over this river. However, this was largely a myth created by Cobain himself (according to biographer Charles R. Cross). This experience is the basis for his song "Something in the Way." Also, though largely considered a myth, Courtney Love claims that Cobain's ashes were spread partly into this river and the rest of the remaining ashes (many were stolen) were sewn into a teddy bear.
See also
References
- ^ "Wishkah River". The Columbia Gazetteer of North America. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ "Chehalis River Basin Nonpoint Action Plan - Wishkah River". Chehalis River Council. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- ^ Phillips, James W. (1971). Washington State Place Names. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95158-3.
46°59′14.5″N 123°48′40″W / 46.987361°N 123.81111°W
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