Blue Salmon Spawning - Southern Oregon Gallery
In order to return home salmon often have to jump, thus their name which comes from the Latin salmo, which in turn comes from salire, meaning "to leap". (Wikipedia and other sites)
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The six species of west coast Salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp) are migratory fish that may travel thousands of miles from their native streams or rivers and across the Pacific Ocean to Alaskan waters and along the Aleutian archipelago. Most travel for at least two years (pinks) and others for four to five years, feeding and growing in the northern Pacific. Historically, Chinook salmon for example (aka King, Spring, or Tyee [when greater than 30 lbs.]), were found to grow up to a hundred pounds and more from feeding in the icy waters of the north pacific ocean, rich in nutritious food fish and plankton. When they reach sexual maturity their “return home” genes are triggered hormonally to tell them that it is time to begin their final journey to their natal stream to spawn the next generation that will begin the venerable cycle again.
Please step over the salmon egg sac below and continue with the story:
