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. 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. Emmonak's gravel airstrip is the regional hub for flights. In addition to the canoe, Indigenous people also travelled the river with mooseskin boats and rafts that could carry entire households. The river continued to do so until the 1950's when roads and airstrips began replacing barges as the most convenient method of transportation for people living and working along the river. The Ogilvie Mountains form the valley wall to the north and after 40 miles the Forty Mile River enters on river left. The Klondike is a small east-bank tributary that joins the Yukon at the historic territorial town of Dawson. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Regardless, know your way through here and get any specific details you can from pilots or local informants. [18][19] The contraction is g Han, if the // remains nasalized, or Yuk Han, if there is no vowel nasalization. USGS 1:63,000 Maps needed to cover the trip from Eagle to Circle are Eagle D-1; Charley A-1, A-2, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, C-6, and D-6; and Circle C-1 and D-1. The 3,190km long Yukon River originates from its source in the Canadian province of British Columbia and then flows through the Canadian territory of Yukon . However, demand for power is limited because of the sparse population in the region. Extra supplies should always be taken in case trip time is extended due to weather or other unplanned events. At the junction of the Tanana River, the main southern tributary in Alaska, the Yukon is less than 300 feet (90 metres) above sea level. southwest, the Yukon River and its tributaries form the regions dominant drainage basin. The 3,190km long Yukon River originates from its source in the Canadian province of British Columbia and then flows through the Canadian territory of Yukon. After another 15 miles, the big river swings to the north and pushes up against the left shore at Takoma Bluffs. After the purchase of Alaska by the United States in 1867, the Alaska Commercial Company acquired the assets of the Russian-American Company and constructed several posts at various locations on the Yukon River. 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. The Yukon River originates from the Llewellyn Glacier at the southern end of Atlin Lake in the Canadian province of British Columbia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The McNeil headwaters rise in the Pelly Mountains of south-central Yukon territory and flow south into Teslin Lake and thence into the Teslin River. Chinook and chum salmon migrate up the Yukon River in two separate summer runs. Some aboriginals dispute this theory and believe in their own traditional teachings that their ancestors originated in North America. The important fishes that are found in the Yukon River include salmon, pike, Arctic grayling, whitefish, and burbots. Woman's body found in Yukon River Yukon River - Wikipedia 1895 The Yukon River Diversions: An Environmental Historical Ghost Story 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 Canada, the Yukon River and its headwaters traverse the territories of the Tr'ondk Hwch'in, Tutchone, Tagish and Tlingit. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. From Circle the river begins it's sweeping bend to the southwest to where the Dalton Highway crosses the river below Steven's Village after 200 miles. Circle C-1, D-1 The Yukon River salmon are considered a delicacy and are in high demand for their rich and oily meat. Yukon Facts - 35 Facts About The Yukon That Will Amaze You - Travel2Next Using stones to hammer in the posts, they built fish weirs The current is strong and winds are a common problem through here. Please select which sections you would like to print: Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. The river gives its name to a territory in Canada - the Yukon. A few areas around waterways provide taller and stronger poplar trees where this may be possible. It is here the Top of the World Highway enters Canada from Alaska, with ferryboat services for cars and the Klondike River joins from river right. km (323 800 sq. About 50 miles (80 km) downstream the Yukon once rushed through the rocky walls of narrow Miles Canyon and tumbled over rock ledges at Whitehorse Rapids. Suite 110 Yukon River | Physical Features & History | Britannica Yukon River - WorldAtlas From its source in British Columbia, Canada, it flows through Canada's territory of Yukon (itself named after the river). Tutchone) was on an island at Three Way Channel. Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) Canoeing the Yukon River to Whitehorse | Hike Bike Travel Sea its relatively flat. Fish Village is along here. Chinook Stock Assessment & Research Project, Alaska Department of Fish 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. With their intimate knowledge of the Yukon, they are able to help you plan the adventure of a lifetime. The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan [2] The total drainage area is 833,000km2 (321,500sqmi),[2] of which 323,800km2 (125,000sqmi) lies in Canada. Galena is another major river village with a fishing industry and processing plants. [33] The agreement is implemented through the Yukon River Panel, an international body of 12 members, equal-parts American and Canadian, that advises managers of Yukon River fisheries concerning restoration, conservation, and coordinated management.[34]. Omissions? Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. During the Klondike Gold Rush, the Yukon River was one of the principal means of transportation. Common methods of fishing on the Yukon include set gillnets, drift nets, dip nets, and fish wheels. Corrections? At Circle the river continues to run northwest and enters the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Reserve and when you pass the town of Fort Yukon, the confluence with the Porcupine River is reached. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Axis of the region, the silt-laden Yukon here flows constricted and swift through a great geologic fault. The body of an Alaskan woman was found in the Yukon River - WT LOCAL Wildlife is abundant and this tour includes the mighty Five Finger Rapids. North of Whitehorse, the Yukon River widens into Lake Laberge, made famous by Robert W. Services The Cremation of Sam McGee. Other large lakes that are part of the Yukon River system include Kusawa Lake (into the Takhini River) and Kluane Lake (into the Kluane and then White River). Whitehorse, situated on the Yukon River, became the capital of the territory in 1953, and shortly thereafter construction began on a hydroelectric dam at the White Horse Rapids The power plant opened in 1958 and continues to supply electricity to the city. Captain Kens Adventures is a scenic boat tour starting from Schwatka Lake, close to downtown Whitehorse. After World War I, the gold mining activity declined and the use of water transport on the Yukon River also decreased. The villages along the Yukon have historically relied on and continue to rely on salmon for their cultural, subsistence, and commercial needs. 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. The Yukon River is the largest river system in Alaska, and the fifth largest river drainage in North America. Almost half of the precipitation falls as rain during the four summer months. Canoe Expedition On The Yukon River | Adventures.com This stretch of the Yukon is a classic bit of wide, huge river with islands and channels. Approximately 126,000 people live in this basin and 10 percent of these people maintain a subsistence lifestyle, depending on the basin's fish and game resources. at the junction of the Yukon and the Pelly. 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. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks. The upper end of the Yukon River was originally known as the Lewes River until it was established that it actually was the Yukon. Tagish Lake then flows into Marsh Lake (via the Tagish River). 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]. As the river enters the preserve near Eagle, it flows across a narrow floodplain flanked by high bluffs and heavily forested hills. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. 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. Game birds such as grouse and ptarmigan are found, and waterfowl include many species of geese, swans, and ducks. In Eagle, there is a basic general store, a restaurant, a small hotel, and a bed & breakfast. Our complete selection of trips and tours are designed to help you experience and enjoy the Yukon year round. One of the most important historical fish trap locations for the Selkirk people (or Northern Join us for a day of snowmobiling or ice fishing in the winter or come experience the majestic northern summers with 24 hours of sunlight as you float down the Yukon River in your canoe. 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. A string of native villages are through here, with Ruby 50 miles before Galena. Up North Adventures is an award winning adventure travel outfitter based in downtown Whitehorse, Yukon. From Eagle, it is 158 miles to where the river next sees road access at the remote town of Circle Alaska at the end of the Steese Highway. This is where the Iditarod Sled Dog Trail portages to the coast, through this valley you see on approach to Kaltag. Subsistence Fishing - Alaska Department of Fish and Game A hook under a vowel, as in "," indicates that the vowel is nasalized. There are sloughs running through large wooded islands that are bigger than most rivers, and if you need to be on one side of the river at a certain point, you better start many miles in advance getting to that side. The Yukon River is the longest river in Yukon & Alaska. km in Canada) and it discharges 195 cubic kilometres of water per year. 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. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. At 3,185 km (1,149 km of which lie in Canada), the Yukon River is among the longest rivers in the country ( see also Longest Rivers in Canada ). Yukon River chinook salmon have been in decline for decades, shrinking in size and in quantity as the years pass. It flows north and northwest across the Yukon into Alaska, then west to Norton Sound on the Bering Sea. It can be subdivided into two regions: upstream of its confluence with the Porcupine the river rises modestly, but over the remaining 1,600 km to the Bering Yukon River | ALASKA.ORG Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? 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. The Village is by the river and there is an airstrip if you were flyinghome. Fortymile River. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. In 1848, a trading post was established at Fort Selkirk by Robert Campbell of the Hudsons Bay Company. VisitCanoe Kayak Rentals & Tours pageto book a trip to explore the Yukon River for yourself. For the full article, see, https://www.britannica.com/summary/Yukon-River. The Yukon River rises in northwestern British Columbia. We rent and sell canoes, kayaks, boats, outboard motors and camping equipment of all sorts. Some of the upper slopes of this watershed (e.g. Updates? The Yukon River is the third-longest river in the United States and a major river in the northwestern part of North America. Not far ahead you enter the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve and for over a hundred miles you will be in the preserve. The Yukon River - ExploreNorth Once you arrive in Dawson you can be treated to all amenities and services. The land surface area surrounding a river, typically bounded by higher elevations, where all of the rainfall or snowmelt flows into that river. Yukon River - Mining, Fur Trapping, Agriculture, and Tourism on Yukon It measures 1,980 miles (3,190 km) from the headwaters of the McNeil River (a tributary of the Nisutlin River). Author of. Complete with notable location descriptions, this virtual tour of the Yukon River is for entertainment and basic orientation purposes. At the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers . Other large lakes that are part of the Yukon River system include Kusawa Lake (into the Takhini River) and Kluane Lake (into the Kluane and then White River). Jet skis and other personal watercraft are prohibited in the preserve. Rainfall in the region is largely restricted to the four summer months as precipitation in the rest of the year is in the form of snow. [19] Because the Holikachuks had been trading regularly with both the Gwichins and the Yup'iks,[24] the Holikachuks were in a position to borrow the Gwich'in contraction and to conflate its meaning with the meaning of Kuig-pak [River-big], which is the Yup'ik name for the same river. Yukon River. The Task Force is required to convene an Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Region Salmon Research Work Group to better understand the historic . Its headwaters Every summer, the world's longest kayaking and canoeing race - the 715 kilometre Yukon River Quest - takes places between Whitehorse and Dawson City. Residents along the Yukon River have long relied on fish as a staple in diet, food for dogs, and for other subsistence uses. Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) As salmon do not eat during their spawning migration, Yukon River salmon must have great reserves of fat and energy to fuel their thousands-mile-long journey. After Mountain Village, the main Yukon channel frays into many channels, sprawling across the delta. Many visitors paddle down the river each year to the Dawson City Music Festival and Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Last Edited. Yukon River - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) 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. 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. 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. The river flows northwest through Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve for 128 miles. How Wide is the Yukon River at its Widest Point? - AZ Animals The average is calculated for the entire year, but there are months when flow is naturally higher or lower. Hes spent his entire life on and around the Yukon River and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and culture with you. The Alaska Salmon Research Task Force was established in June 2023 to identify data gaps and produce a coordinated science plan for Alaska salmon. 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. A 366-metre-long wood and concrete fish ladder was constructed to help migrating salmon bypass the dam to get to their spawning beds. There are 1400 miles of the river in the state of Alaska and 900 miles in Canada. Much of this region is within Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The longest river in Alaska and Yukon, it was one of the principal means of transportation during the 18961903 Klondike Gold Rush. the biannual Moosehide Gathering. Subsistence fishing of salmon in the waters of the Yukon provides support to the local economy of the region. Best Things to Do in Yukon River - Travelstride Midwest City's Tribute to Liberty. Miners From Whitehorse there begins a 460-mile section of river that runs to Dawson where road access occurs. Yukon Maps & Facts - World Atlas 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. Fishwheel Charters is owned and operated by Tommy, the only Yukon First Nation tour guide in Dawson City. April 17, 2017. 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. During the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, it served as a prime means of transport for prospectors. However, in recent years, there has been a drastic decline in salmon runs. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. The Yukon River originates in the coastal mountains of Canada and flows 1,979 miles in a wide arc to the Bering Sea. Salmon are traditionally dried, smoked, and frozen for both human and sled dog consumption. Photo by Alida Trainor. 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 . From Dawson, the Yukon has become a giant river and runs northwest as it heads to the border with Alaska. 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. For the safety of visitors, the NPS recommends that floaters file a Voluntary Backcountry Trip Plan with the preserve and a friend or relative. Upstream on the Tanana lies Fairbanks, the largest city in the Yukon River basin. Past Dawson, the valley becomes narrow and then, as it enters Alaska, widens into the broad interior plateau called the Yukon Flats.. Alaska's Vanishing Salmon Push Yukon River Tribes to the Brink The upper end of the Yukon River was originally known as the Lewes River until it was established that it actually was the Yukon. The story cycle of the Athapaskan hero Tachokaii (the Traveller) tells of the making of both the river and time itself. Ask a local in a boat or on shore. As a result, Yukon River salmon are noted for their especially rich and oily meat. 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. Bennett Lake; Atlin Lake; Nares River. Shipyard (Hootalinqua) Island is associated with the gold rush era and is still occupied by the S.S. Evelyn/Norcom, a paddlewheeler built in 1908 that has been slowly disintegrating there since being hauled to this winter storage facility at the end of the 1913 shipping season. The valleys of the Yukon River basin, where nearly all of the population lives, have a subarctic climate with relatively warm, short summers; but the treeless upper mountain slopes, where there are no weather stations, are classified as having an Arctic climate. are found from the mouth of the Yukon River to its headwaters. In the mid-1880s, prospectors and miners arrived in the rivers watershed. 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. [18] White water river in fact corresponds to Gwich'in words that can be shortened to form Yukon. Ruby is another hub village and has a store and the Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge is nearby. It was built beside the dam at Whitehorse to provide a channel for the salmon as they migrate upstream. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. The river is called Chu Nnkwn by the southern Tutchone. Side-streams tumble from the hinterlands - further passageways long inviting human traffic. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. The nearly 3,200-kilometer (2,000-mile) Yukon River starts in British Columbia and drains an area larger than Texas in both Canada and Alaska as it cuts through the lands of Athabascan, Yup'ik and . Explore the historical and cultural side of yukon. Geology, cultural history, gold rush remnants, wildlife, and vast scenery will be a part of your . Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Thirty Mile (Yukon River), Yukon - Canadian Heritage Rivers System North of Selkirk, the Yukon is a clear and gentle river, with numerous low islands breaking the channel.