Salmon

Salmon are one of the most amazing fish in the world. Every year they complete an incredible journey, travelling hundreds or even thousands of miles between rivers and the sea.

They're famous for their determination, strength and remarkable ability to find their way home.

🌍 Where Do Salmon Live?

Salmon are found across the Northern Hemisphere, including:

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇳🇴 Norway
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇫🇮 Finland
🇨🇦 Canada
🇺🇸 Alaska and parts of the USA

In the UK, Atlantic Salmon can be found in many rivers, including those in:

• Scotland
• Wales
• Northumberland
• Cumbria
• Yorkshire
• Devon
• Cornwall

📏 How Big Are They?

Adult Atlantic Salmon usually grow to:

• Length: 70–100 cm (around the height of a Year 1 child!)
• Weight: 3–12 kg

Some exceptional salmon can grow much larger, weighing over 20 kg.

🎨 What Do They Look Like?

Salmon change colour during their lives.

🐟 Young salmon living in rivers have dark stripes to help camouflage them.

🌊 Adults living in the sea become bright silver to blend into the ocean.

🍂 When they return to rivers to breed, they become darker and many males develop hooked jaws called a kype.

🔄 An Amazing Life Cycle

One of the most incredible things about salmon is their life cycle.

🥚 Eggs are laid in shallow gravel nests called redds.

🐟 Tiny babies called alevins hatch carrying a small yolk sac that feeds them.

🌿 Once the yolk is gone, they become fry and begin searching for tiny insects to eat.

🏞️ As they grow, they become parr, developing dark markings that help hide them from predators.

🌊 Before heading to sea they transform into smolts, changing colour so they can survive in salt water.

🌍 Adult salmon may spend 1–5 years growing in the ocean.

🏡 Finally, they return to the very river where they were born to lay eggs and begin the cycle all over again.

🍽️ What Do Salmon Eat?

Young salmon enjoy eating:

🦟 Insects

🪰 Fly larvae

🦐 Tiny freshwater creatures

Adult salmon living in the sea feed on:

🐟 Small fish

🦐 Shrimp

🦑 Squid

🦅 Who Eats Salmon?

Salmon are an important part of many food chains.

Predators include:

🦦 Otters

🦅 Ospreys

🦅 Eagles

🦭 Seals

🐻 Bears (in countries such as Canada and Alaska)

People have also caught salmon for food for thousands of years.

🌟 Fun Salmon Facts!

🐟 Salmon can travel thousands of miles during their lifetime.

👃 They have an extraordinary sense of smell.

🏡 Many return to the exact river where they were born.

💪 Some salmon can jump over 3 metres high.

🌊 Atlantic Salmon are excellent swimmers and can reach speeds of around 20 mph (32 km/h) over short distances.

🥚 A female salmon can lay thousands of eggs at once.

🌍 Salmon have existed for millions of years.

Some of the best-known places to watch salmon jumping include:

• Cenarth Falls (Wales)
• Betws-y-Coed (North Wales)
• Falls of Shin (Scotland)

💪 Why Do Salmon Jump?

Salmon leap for one main reason…

To keep moving upstream!

During their journey they encounter:

🪨 Rocks

💧 Waterfalls

🌊 Fast flowing rapids

By building up speed and launching themselves into the air, they can sometimes clear surprisingly high obstacles.

Not every jump is successful, but salmon simply keep trying.

🧭 How Do They Find Their Way Home?

Scientists believe salmon use several amazing navigation tools.

👃 Their incredible sense of smell helps them recognise the unique scent of their home river.

🌍 They may also use the Earth's magnetic field like a natural compass.

Together, these abilities allow many salmon to return to the exact stream where they first hatched.

❤️ Why Are Salmon Important?

Salmon help keep rivers healthy.

They provide food for many different animals and transport valuable nutrients from the sea back into rivers and forests.

Healthy salmon populations are often a sign of a healthy river ecosystem.

🌱 How Can We Help Salmon?

Everyone can make a difference.

✔ Never drop litter into rivers.

✔ Pick up rubbish if it's safe to do so.

✔ Protect rivers, streams and ponds.

✔ Be careful not to disturb spawning fish.

✔ Support organisations working to improve river habitats.

Every small action helps wildlife.

👀 Things to Look For

If you're lucky enough to visit a river during late summer or autumn, see if you can spot:

🐟 A salmon jumping upstream

💦 Splashing water near rapids

🦦 An otter searching for food

🦅 Birds watching the river

🌿 Clean, fast-flowing water

Remember to stay on paths, keep a safe distance from wildlife and enjoy nature quietly.