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Amazing Facts About Alaskan Salmon

[Sockeye salmon leaping a waterfall] Salmon Are Great Athletes
Migrating salmon are able to jump over waterfalls more than 12' tall in order to get back to their home stream for spawning.

Chum salmon in the Yukon River are long-distance travel champions. Some of these fish will migrate over two thousand miles to their spawning streams.

Some salmon travel for two months or more to reach their spawning streams. All this travel takes place without them eating one bite of food!

[Chum salmon ocean and spawning stage] Salmon Are Quick Change Artists
The memory and smell centers in a salmon's brain grow rapidly just before it leaves its home stream for the sea. Scientists believe this memory of their home stream's unique smell will help salmon find their way back when it's time to spawn.

When a salmon hatches, it is adapted for a life in fresh water. Its whole body goes through many changes during its migration to the sea to make it able to live in salt water.

Salmon are all bright silver in the sea. As they return to spawn, their colors may change to brown, bright red, green, or stripes. The spawning males of different species may also develop a hooked nose, humped back, or fierce teeth which help them attract a mate and defend their spawning territory.

[Spawning Sockeye Salmon] Salmon Have Amazing Senses
A salmon can detect one drop of water from its home stream mixed up in 250 gallons of sea water. Salmon will follow this faint scent trail back to their home stream to spawn.

The lateral line along the salmon's side can detect very small currents in the water. This helps them tell direction, find food, and avoid predators.

[Bears Feeding On Salmon]

Some Sockeye salmon are able to navigate using the sun and moon.

Salmon have 300 degree vision. They can see in all directions except directly behind them.

Salmon Are Important
Salmon are found in food chains in freshwater, in estuaries, and in the open ocean. They are an important food source for many animals including humans.

Text by USFWS staff
Graphics used by permission of Harry Heine
Last modified 4, March, 2009

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