It gets its name from the Kinta Valley, which surrounds Ipoh, the capital of Perak.

There are many limestone hills in the area surrounding the river, and there used to be many tin mines.

The supposedly largest tin field in the world was discovered in 1876 in the Kinta Valley.

The fisheries department reported a greater abundance of fish from the Intake Dam to Tasek, and from a secluded fish pool, 0.75 miles (1.21 km) down from Tanjung Rambutan.

Fishing in this area used to be a major local activity until the fisheries gradually closed down.