The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. Below is the article summary. Floaters can also file a voluntary backcountry trip plan in-person at the Eagle visitor center. Ogilvie River; Blackstone River; Hart River; Wind River; Bonnet Plume River; Snake River; Firth River; Malcolm River; Trail River; Babbage River; Blow River; Clarence River; Bering Sea watershed. DAWSON CITYWATSON LAKEWHITEHORSECAMPBELL REGIONFAROROSS RIVERKLONDIKE REGIONCARMACKSDAWSON CITYPELLY CROSSINGSTEWART CROSSINGSILVER TRAILKENO CITYMAYOKLUANE REGIONBEAVER CREEKBURWASH LANDINGDESTRUCTION BAYHAINES JUNCTIONNORTH YUKONEAGLE PLAINSOLD CROWSOUTHERN LAKES REGIONCARCROSSMARSH LAKEMOUNT LORNETAGISHTESLIN, ATLINCHETWYNDDAWSON CREEKFORT NELSONFORT ST. JOHN, FORT MCPHERSONINUVIKPAULATUKTSIIGEHTCHICTUKTOYAKTUKULUKHAKTOK (HOLMAN), WHITEHORSE AIRPORT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, DAWSON CITY EVENTSFARO EVENTSMAYO EVENTSWATSON LAKE EVENTSWHITEHORSE EVENTS. BRFCs are available free of charge at the Eagle Visitor Center and at the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center. The United States Department of Commerce issued a Federal Disaster Declaration for the 2008 and 2009 Commercial Chinook Yukon River fisheries, calling for the complete closure of commercial fishing along with restrictions on subsistence fishing. Many visitors paddle down the river each year to the Dawson City Music Festival and In the 1950s, river transport in the Canadian part of the Yukon River lost much of its importance and was gradually replaced by road and air transport. Suite 110 The river's watershed covers 330,000 square miles, an area larger than Texas. The Yukon River hosts one of the longest salmon runs in the world, where every year the Coho, Chinook, and chum salmons migrate long distances along the river and its tributaries for spawning. Our handpicked staff are here to help you every step of the way! The mouth of the Yukon River is far to the west at St. Michael and a journey from Seattle or San Francisco covered some 4,000 miles (6,400 km). The territorial government has assumed increasing responsibility for building roads, airfields, and power-generating facilities, as well as for providing incentives to private companies interested in developing resources in the area. It measures 1,980 miles (3,190 km) from the headwaters of the McNeil River (a tributary of the Nisutlin River). There is the Canadian section, The Yukon Charley section, the Yukon Flats section, the haul road section and the far western section to consider. The Yukon is home to Canada's highest peak, largest ice fields, the smallest desert and the western-most point in Canada. All visitors should wear personal flotation devices (life preservers) and keep emergency gear with them, such as a first aid kit, whistle, signal mirror, knife, magnesium fire starter, waterproof matches, and tightly sealed emergency rations. [26] This locale near the Seward Peninsula represents the near westernmost limit of the Black Spruce, Picea mariana,[27] one of the most widespread conifers in northern North America. The Klondike is a small east-bank tributary that joins the Yukon at the historic territorial town of Dawson. From Dawson the river runs into Alaska to the first real access, the Taylor Highway, at the town of Eagle Alaska, 240 miles below Dawson. If you believe all When the Alaska Highway was completed in 1942 it reoriented the activity in the central Yukon away from the river. The Village is by the river and there is an airstrip if you were flyinghome. Yukon River, major North American river that flows through the central Yukon territory of northwestern Canada and the central region of the U.S. state of Alaska. EMMONAK, Alaska (KTUU) - A woman's body was found Thursday on the Yukon River north of Emmonak. 101 Dunkel St 2-5 day small ship explorations. At Kaltag the river jogs due south a bit and starts winding past big wooded islands. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. There are a number of communities after the head of passes, as the channel division is called locally: Nunum Iqua, Alakanuk, Emmonak, and Kotlik. However, due to the nature of the trees in this area of Alaska, this is often exceptionally challenging or not possible, as the area is dominated by short spruce trees with limbs not strong enough to support weight. Yukon River, major North American river that flows through the central Yukon territory of northwestern Canada and the central region of the U.S. state of Alaska. Where you start is probably dependent upon vehicles and drivers with the first opportunity at Lake Bennett, where you can paddle its length into Lake Tagish and on down to its outlet into the Yukon proper. Paddle-wheel riverboats continued to ply the river until the 1950s when the Klondike Highway was completed. Although the main mining operations were on tributaries of the Yukon River, Dawson City the territorys principal settlement was at the confluence of the Klondike and the Yukon. Should a bridge be built over the Yukon River connecting the historic town site to West Dawson, Sunnydale, and the Top o. Thursday, June 29, 2023 Eye on the Arctic. The Yukon River Diversions: An Environmental Historical Ghost Story According to these stories, the birchbark canoe was created on the shores of the river, where it widens into the south end of Lake Laberge. First, the White River enters from river left, then the Stewart River on river right. Canadians should have access to free, impartial, fact-checked, regularly updated information Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Photo by Alida Trainor. It has an incredible array of wildlife and grizzly bears, caribou, moose and other animals roam the land. Throughout its course, the Yukon River is joined by numerous tributaries such as White River, Takhini River, Porcupine River, Tanana River, Teslin River, Pelly River, Stewart River, Klondike River, etc. For those not using the recommended BRFCs, we strongly encourage caching all food and scented items a minimum of 100 feet from camp and suspending at least 10 feet above ground. A river or stream that flows into a larger river. All along the remaining distance here are small villages with names like Dogfish Village, Russian Mission, Kakamut, Marshall, and Pilot Station. Initially, till the 1830s, only the Delta of the river was known to Russians, while the headwaters of the river were not known till the next decade. After Mountain Village, the main Yukon channel frays into many channels, sprawling across the delta. USGS maps may be purchased at your local USGS office, on-line at https://store.usgs.gov, or at the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center (limited maps available). There is a small monument where you enter the USA and a cleared swath of land. North of Lake Laberge, the Yukon flows through a broad, generally flat-bottomed valley; riverbanks are not high, and the river meanders lazily across the valley floor, with numerous sandbars and small islands dotting the channel. At the town of Tanana is the confluence with the Tanana River, a giant river in its own right, and the village has a grocery store and a few other services and is on the right side of the river below the huge confluence. Here the river swings to the west and heads to the village of Carmacks on the Klondike Highway. The federal and territorial governments play important roles in Yukon's economy. Marsh, J., & Piper, L. (2023). The discovery of gold on the Klondike in 1896 precipitated an influx of settlement that created an international mythology of romantic frontier existence associated with the name Yukon. The gold rush transformed the Yukon and the river, greatly increasing steamboat traffic and the number of newcomers. [13][14] Paddle-wheel riverboats continued to ply the river until the 1950s, when the Klondike Highway was completed. The generally accepted source of the Yukon River is the Llewellyn Glacier at the southern end of Atlin Lake in British Columbia. 867-334-2066 [emailprotected]. The Yukon River proper, therefore, starts at the northern end of the Marsh Lake, just to the south of the city of Whitehorse in the Canadian Territory of Yukon. In 1848, a trading post was established at Fort Selkirk by Robert Campbell of the Hudsons Bay Company. Conditions for operating sonar in the lower Yukon River are . Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. The river gives its name to a territory in Canada - the Yukon. About 175 miles (280 km) downstream from the Tanana confluence, the last major tributary, the Koyukuk, drains southward from the south-central slopes of the Brooks Range. There is a stigma to floating the Yukon that is unlike most other river journeys and it is a big undertaking but is generally a mild river with a few rapids in the Canadian section and strong eddy lines at every turn. Alaska State Troopers say that they found an Alaska Native woman's body on the Yukon River about 30 miles from Emmonak on Tuesday, June 27. Almost half of the precipitation falls as rain during the four summer months. The river is 3,190 kilometres (1,980mi)[10][11] long and empties into the Bering Sea at the YukonKuskokwim Delta. After World War I, the gold mining activity declined and the use of water transport on the Yukon River also decreased. Please take a moment to browse our website to decide how we can help you discover one of the most special places on the planet. Some of the upper slopes of this watershed (e.g. June 30, 2023. Smaller invertebrates that live in the river include mussels, clams, (Vuntut . After exiting Lake Leberge you have 15 miles to the confluence with the Teslin River and another 20 mile to the confluence with the Big Salmon River. Best take out is on river right below the bridge. Some parts of the river do not have eddies to make set-nets successful, whereas in other places the tributaries are small enough to make drifting impractical. When and where: 7 to 10 p.m. July 4 at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, 8700 E Reno Ave. Information: www.midwestcityok.org. In 1896, the Yukon River became widely known after the discovery of gold near the Klondike River, which is a tributary of the Yukon River. By 1927 the Steese Highway was completed, linking Circle and neighboring Central with Fairbanks, and today many people drive to Circle to put in or take boats out of the Yukon River. Some argue that the source of the Yukon River should really be Teslin Lake and the Teslin River, which has a larger flow when it reaches the Yukon at Hootalinqua. Regardless, know your way through here and get any specific details you can from pilots or local informants. It measures 1,980 miles (3,190 km) from the headwaters of the McNeil River (a tributary of the Nisutlin River). The valleys of the Yukon River Basin experience a subarctic climate, with relatively short and warm summers and long, bitterly cold winters. Of those delta communities, Emmonak is the largest with roughly 760 people in the 2000 census. Although the Yukon River shares its name with Canada's Yukon territory, it does not begin within the territory. As the river enters the preserve near Eagle, it flows across a narrow floodplain flanked by high bluffs and heavily forested hills. The river delta is about 40 miles (65 km) across, swampy, and lake-covered. The river flows into several parklands and refuges including: Yukon at Pilot Station (121 miles upstream of mouth) minimum, average and maximum discharge[28]. At the western end of the flats is a narrow gorge, where the river rushes through a low mountain barrier known as the ramparts. The Ogilvie Mountains form the valley wall to the north and after 40 miles the Forty Mile River enters on river left. The Lewes River is the former name of the upper course of the Yukon, from Marsh Lake to the confluence of the Pelly River at Fort Selkirk. southwest, the Yukon River and its tributaries form the regions dominant drainage basin. The Yukon River is the largest river in Alaska and the Yukon, Canada.The river was so important to the area that the Yukon gets its name from the river. After going under the Dalton Highway you are on the way to a section of river without road access but there are numerous villages where regular commercial air service is your ticket out. The woman has not yet been identified, but about 100 miles upriver from where the body was found, Kimberly Fitka O'Domin's family has been searching for her since she went missing in the Yukon River . The road to Skagway from Whitehorse offers the access to the headwater lakes of the Upper Yukon River. According to an email from the Department of Public Safety, troopers in the area were notified at 4:23 p.m. Thursday that the body of an adult woman was in nearby waters. Winners have finished the race in less than 41 hours though most mortals take about two weeks to cover the distance. The watersheds total drainage area is 840 000 sq. Of course you could land a floatplane almost anywhere to start or end a trip, but the Yukon does have enough road access to yield some good sections of river with access. Bitterly cold air masses from Siberia or the Arctic Ocean cross Alaska and Yukon territory throughout the long, dark winter, but occasional warm air masses from the Pacific Ocean can penetrate over the high barrier of the St. Elias Mountains and bring warmer winter temperatures to the Whitehorse area. Fairbanks, While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Geology, cultural history, gold rush remnants, wildlife, and vast scenery will be a part of your . Past Dawson, the valley becomes narrow and then, as it enters Alaska, widens into the broad interior plateau called the Yukon Flats.. The upper end of the Yukon River was originally known as the Lewes River until it was established that it actually was the Yukon. Midwest City's Tribute to Liberty. Yukon River Chinook salmon eggs will incubate for one year and, after hatching, these young salmon will . Over time the Yukon River shifted and swallowed most of the town's original log buildings and the residents simply built farther back from the banks. [22][23] Then, two years later, the Gwich'ins told the Hudson's Bay Company that their name for the river was Yukon and that the name meant white water river. The Yukon River is the longest river in Yukon & Alaska. "Yukon River. It joins a relative few that sport that distinguishing article like a triumphant curlicue moustache (another is the Bronx). In 1843, the Holikachuks had told the Russian-American Company that their name for the river was Yukkhana and that this name meant big river. From prehistoric times until the late 1950s when all-weather roads arrived, the Yukon River was the region's highway for settlement and development. The river remains central to Indigenous cultural landscapes in the Yukon and also serves as a popular tourist destination for those interested in wilderness canoe trips. Running out of the Canadian subarctic and across the entire breadth of Alaska to where its gigantic delta meets the Bering Sea, the Yukon would take a lifetime of exploring to learn a fraction of its lessons. Early history [ edit] Steamer Portus B. Weare on the Yukon, ca. [18] White water river in fact corresponds to Gwich'in words that can be shortened to form Yukon. Under the stars and Aurora of a winter night we can take you on a breathtaking snow ride across the pristine expanse of famous Lake Laberge. Overwhelmed by choices? Navigational obstacles on the Yukon River are the Five Finger Rapids and Rink Rapids downstream from Carmacks. Jump into your summer adventures with usDay and Half Day Hiking With DogsDay and Half Day Canoeing with DogsMulti Day Canoeing with dogs, It is our goal to show our guests the untouched nature and unique biodiversity of the Yukon. donating today. The lower half of the river flows in the westward direction through the central portion of the US State of Alaska. The region is also seeing mass die-offs of salmon. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks. The Yukon River salmon are considered a delicacy and are in high demand for their rich and oily meat. For that reason, the documentary evidence suggests that the Holikachuks had borrowed the contraction g Han [White Water River] from Gwich'in, and erroneously assumed that this contraction had the same literal meaning as the corresponding Yup'ik name Kuig-pak [River-big]. The Yukon River is such a giant; no words can accurately describe the scale of things along its more than 2000-mile length. The important fishes that are found in the Yukon River include salmon, pike, Arctic grayling, whitefish, and burbots. From Forty Mile it is about 110 miles to Eagle where the next access road is found. The name Yukon comes from the Gwich'in word Yu-kun-ah meaning "great river" and is a reference to the Yukon River. October 16, 2006. Soon it straightens onto a SSW course. It gives access to Lake Bennett or Lake Tagish or even the far reaches of Lake Atlin, the true headwaters. The main river and tributaries are (sorted in order from the mouth heading upstream): Location of the Yukon River and watershed, "Dear Sir, I have great pleasure in informing you that I have at length after much trouble and difficulties, succeed[ed] in reaching the 'Youcon', or white water River, so named by the (. Bennett Lake; Atlin Lake; Nares River. The valley of the Yukon is believed by some anthropologists to have been the main immigration route for North Americas first human inhabitants. Yukon River. Below the Dalton highway is an area more connected by riverboat than road, so boat traffic becomes more and more common. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Some never leave freshwater environments, but most return to the mouth of the Yukon River from the Bering Sea in late spring and early summer, entering Canadian waters in mid-to-late July. The average is calculated for the entire year, but there are months when flow is naturally higher or lower. [31], Various organizations are involved to protect healthy salmon runs into the future. at the junction of the Yukon and the Pelly. The third longest river in North America, flowing northwest from the Coastal Range mountains of northern British Columbia, through the Yukon Territory and Alaska to the Bering Sea. Other items to bring may include waterproof topographic maps, compass, GPS, two-way radio, and/or personal ELT. Circle, on the downstream side of the preserve, also has limited facilities, including a general store and fuel. The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan . Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Canoeists are required to use the steel BRFCs, available free of charge in Eagle and Fairbanks. Put In Option for Yukon River. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. The river passes through the communities of Whitehorse, Carmacks, (just before the Five Finger Rapids) and Dawson City in Yukon, and crossing Alaska into Eagle, Circle, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, Rampart, Tanana, Ruby, Galena, Nulato, Grayling, Holy Cross, Russian Mission, Marshall, Pilot Station, St. Marys (which is accessible from the Yukon at Pitkas Point), and Mountain Village. The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. https://www.britannica.com/place/Yukon-River, Yukon River - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Yukon River - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The river itself is about 1,000 feet (300 metres) above sea level before it crosses the border into Alaska. In 1851, he explored the downstream of the Yukon River till its confluence with the Porcupine River, where Fort Yukon had already been established in 1847. Annual precipitation is low, as it is in most of northwestern Canada and central Alaska, with an average of about 10 inches (260 mm) recorded at Whitehorse and 12 inches (305 mm) at Dawson. Birds and mammals, including bald eagles, and brown and black bears, prey on fish living in the river and are critically important to the rivers food webs. The river was called Kwiguk, or large stream, in Yupik. As the Yukon nears the Bering Sea, it bends sharply northward to empty into Norton Sound. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Yukon River is considered the longest river in Yukon and Alaska and its drainage basin covers an area of about 833,000 sq. The river flows northwest through Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve for 128 miles. Just south of Dawson City was Trochk, an ancient Tr'ondk Hwch'in fish camp. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. To the west of the Mertie Mountains is the Charley River and the mountain . From Dawson, the Yukon has become a giant river and runs northwest as it heads to the border with Alaska. Strong winds can create 3-foot waves and getting stopped is never an easy task. It was built beside the dam at Whitehorse to provide a channel for the salmon as they migrate upstream. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Over the last 20 years salmon recruitment, the number of returning adults, has taken several shocks. It is recommended that visitors bring all necessary camping gear and supplies. [18][19] The contraction is g Han, if the // remains nasalized, or Yuk Han, if there is no vowel nasalization. West of the Yukons confluence with the Tanana, the Yukon valley broadens south of the river; but within 5 miles (8 km) of its northern banks rise the low Kokrines Hills, with peaks over 3,000 feet (900 metres) in elevation. The Yukon River is home to one of the longest salmon runs in the world. King salmon has been on the decline there for many years. According to this theory, the ancestors of todays aboriginal peoples arrived across a now-submerged isthmus joining present-day Alaska with Russias Siberia. The Yukon River is the largest river system in Alaska, and the fifth largest river drainage in North America. In Canada, four principal tributaries feed the Yukon River: the Teslin River, the Pelly River, the White River and the Stewart River. Motorized jet boats are often preferred since props can be easily damaged on unseen gravel bars. Miners The Yukon River, located in northwestern Canada and central Alaska, drains an area of more than 330,000 square miles, making it the fourth largest drainage basin in North America. Here the river system is tens of miles wide with channels through big wooded islands and thousands of lakes. Under the leadership of Chief Isaac, the Tr'ondk Hwch'in moved to Moosehide, 5 km downstream. Since the late 20th century, climate change has caused river ice to break up earlier in the spring, sometimes aggravating natural hazards like ice-jam floods, which have Where it meets up with the Porcupine, the Yukon seems to begin its search for a direct route to the sea and begins a run to the southwest for hundreds of miles. Stay to the right hand channel for easiest passage. The Thirty Mile River Details on this stretch of the river, from the Canadian Heritage Rivers System. The lower half of the river continues westward through the U.S. state of Alaska. For example, making a campfire on a gravel bar instead of in the trees is not only less likely to start a wildfire, but all evidence will be washed away with the next high water event. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Yukon is one of the most important salmon-breeding rivers in the world. For the safety of visitors, the NPS recommends that floaters file a Voluntary Backcountry Trip Plan with the preserve and a friend or relative. Yukon River 1,973 miles (3,175 km) Marsh Lake. By 1846, the Russians had successfully mapped about 970km of the lower river. AK Average summer temperatures in the valleys of this high-latitude region, with its long hours of summer daylight, are moderately warm, with July mean temperatures of about 60 F (16 C) at Dawson and slightly lower at Whitehorse. During the Klondike Gold Rush (late 1800s, early 1900s) the Yukon River was the main means of transportation. Below the haul road alikely destination might be Galena, 310miles away, where the Yukon starts its run to the south and to its giant delta region. 1895 We have been helping people from all over the world experience one of the most unique places on Earth since 1991! The Yukon then flows generally westward for about 150 miles (240 km) across a broad, flat valley; the many channels of the braided river thread their way through numerous islands and sandbars. the biannual Moosehide Gathering. Chinook It has been carrying water all through the last ice age as part of the ice-free corridor that may have linked the subarctic regions with the southern latitudes and has been home to the Athabaskan Native groups for eons. Below the haul road a likely destination might be Galena, 310 miles away, where the Yukon starts its run to the south and to its giant delta region. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north, providing a natural boundary for the territory. Visitors may bring their own vessels or rent canoes or rafts locally. Some of the notable mammals that are found here include grizzly bears, moose, deer, caribou, sheep, mountain goats, timber wolves, muskrats, martens, lynxes, minks, etc. The third longest river in North America, the Yukon ("Great River") runs for about 1,900 miles from northern British Columbia through Canada's Yukon Territory and then through Alaska, emptying into the Bering Sea. She gave us her advice on paddling the Yukon River, from using the right type of canoe to bear-proofing your campsite. Alaska. We also produce the Heritage Minutes and other programs. Dolly Varden (trout), inconnu, burbot, cisco and three species of salmon: chum, coho and chinook. Then it runs due west the final 20 mile stretch to where the Dalton Highway Bridge is found. The average volume of water that flows out of the river over a specific unit of time, usually cubic metres per second. Shortly after the Alaska Commercial Company established Fort Reliance in 1874, they introduced steamboats onto the Yukon River. Where the Tozitna River enters from the right, the Yukon is pushed to the left and a large set of islands is formed. The Stewart River, having about the same drainage area as the White River, flows out of the former mining area of MayoKeno City to the east. Tagish Lake then flows into Marsh Lake. However, in recent years, there has been a drastic decline in salmon runs. Marsh, James H. and Liza Piper. It shares its borders with Alaska to the west, the Northwest Territories to the east, and British Columbia to the south. From Whitehorse there begins a 460-mile section of river that runs to Dawson where road access occurs. (for which the community was named). This region is the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge and you pass Bullfrog, Eagle, Blackburn, and Fox Point Islands to where the village of Grayling sits on the right side of the river. Yukon-Alaska Sternwheelers A listing of over 360 of the boats which operated on the rivers of the Yukon and Alaska. The snow- and glacier-fed waters of the Tanana drain the north slopes of the high Alaska Range, but, after the peak runoff in July, the Tanana becomes a shallow stream by late summer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Visitors who float approximately 30 miles a day and camp each night usually take around 5 days to reach Circle. After going under the Dalton Highway you are on the way to asection of river without road access but there are numerous villages where regular commercial air service is your ticketout. Fishing Information. Eagle C-1, D-1 Yukon-Charley Rivers provides both steel drum BRFCs with locking lids and smaller backpacker BRFCs. The Whitehorse Fishway is, at 366 meters (m) in length, the longest wooden fish ladder in the world. For questions or to obtain a trip plan, contact the Eagle visitor center at (907) 547-2233. It attracted attention following the rich gold strikes in 1896, notably the Klondike gold rush on one of its Canadian tributaries, the Klondike River. The Yukon is a slow-moving, braided stream, and is shallow except when swollen by spring waters. In turn, the river is central to Indigenous cultural landscapes. A major tributary of the Yukon River, the Fortymile is a clear water stream that has 6 main forks flowing east of the Mertie Mountains and north of the Tanana State Forest area, out of the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, not far south of the Arctic Circle.
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