67 Incredible Yukon River Facts: How Did It Get Its Name

The Yukon River starts in British Columbia and empties into the Bering sea.

Did you know that the Yukon River is one of the longest in North America? This great river has been very important to Russians as well as Americans for the trade and transportation routes that have been opened along with it.

It stretches for more than 1982 mi (3190 km) from its source in British Columbia to its mouth near Alaska. The Yukon River is also one of the most important waterways in North America, serving as a vital transportation route for people and goods. At the same time, the conifer forests and diverse wildlife that thrives in the region make it nearly impossible to overlook the beauty of this place. The many important fish species that live in this river also add to the economic benefits that neighboring places such as Alaska and Yukon receive from the Yukon River. Keep reading to learn more about the Yukon River Basin as well as the many tributaries of the area!

What is unique about the Yukon River?

There are a number of factors that make the Yukon River special. This river and its positioning are such that people of the Yukon and Alaskan region have benefited largely from its existence over the years. Right from the beginning of the 19th century, this river system has been scoured in order to create waterways that would establish better trade routes as well as ease the transportation system in the area. At present, the river has been discovered fully by humans and is utilized in a number of different ways.

Yukon is the longest river in Alaska and the Yukon territory.

It is the third-longest river in North America.

It starts in the Coastal Range mountains, located in the Canadian territory of British Columbia.

It then flows through the Yukon Territory and Alaska.

It finally empties into the Bering sea.

This river is fed by the Teslin River, White River, Stewart River, and Pelly River.

The main branches of the Yukon River, which arise in Alaska, are the Tanana River, Porcupine River, and Koyukuk!

The upper Yukon River which arises from Marsh lake, was previously known as the Lewes River.

Rivers such as the Takhini River, Klondike River, and Teslin River join the Yukon River throughout its long course.

The valleys located within the Yukon River Basin have a subarctic type of climate.

Hence, the area is dense with conifer forests.

There are four bridges on the Yukon River.

Located towards the northern end of Marsh lake, the Lewis bridge is on the Alaska highway.

Connecting the Whitehorse suburb, Riverdale, and the downtown region is the Robert Campbell Bridge.

Located on the Klondike Highway on the Yukon River Bridge. It is located in Carmacks.

Another Yukon River Bridge is located on the Dalton highway. It is towards the northern end of Fairbanks.

The Yukon River area is very important to the indigenous communities since they are heavily dependent on the fish that this river provides.

The Yukon River area saw a major surge in population during the Klondike Goldrush.

This gold rush started towards the end of the 19th century.

At this time, large crowds came to the Yukon Territory with the hopes of becoming rich.

Nearly all the tributaries such as the Klondike River saw major mining activities at the time.

The area was bustling with people until the Alaska highway was built.

This highway was completed in 1942.

The Yukon River is still very important for the indigenous communities.

They heavily depend on the Yukon River salmon varieties for their survival.

All the most sought-after varieties of salmon are available in abundance in the region.

The area has one of the longest salmon runs in the world.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is deemed one of the largest in the world.

It is much larger than the Mississippi Delta.

It is at this delta that the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers empty into the Bering Sea.

The delta is huge and even larger than Texas.

The area is majorly comprised of tundra.

The mineral density of this area has invited many migrants ever since the late 19th century.

Before the onset of these migrants, the area was inhabited by Indian North Americans.

The migrants were basically of European and Russian descent.

The Yukon Basin has a protected area known as the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

The Klondike Highway was completed in the '50s.

Until then, the main medium of transportation was the paddle-wheel riverboat.

The United States of America purchased Alaska in 1867.

At this time, all the Russian American companies that had been operating from the Yukon River areas came under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Commercial company.

Some of the salmon species found in the Yukon River are chum, chinook or king, and the coho species.

These fish return to their terminal streams of the Yukon River and are abundant in British Columbia, Alaska, and Yukon alike.

Salmon is also a cultural symbol for the people living in villages near the Yukon River.

This fish is consumed in many forms.

Some of the fish caught in spring is also preserved in order to make sure that there is enough food for the winters!

How did the Yukon River get its name?

Being the third-longest river in North America, it is obvious that people have wanted to know more about the Yukon River for a long time. It starts in the Canadian region of British Columbia, but its majority lies in Yukon and Alaska.

The name 'Yukon' comes from an indigenous language called Gwich'in.

In this language, the word 'Yukon' means 'great river.'

In fact, the Yukon Territory is named after the river itself.

Yukon River is the longest one that flows through Yukon and Alaska.

The river delta is also very important economically and in terms of ecological benefits.

The Yukon Basin is not very developed.

However, many tourists find their way to this basin for its raw charm and the touch of authenticity that its landscape adds.

The basin houses many exotic species of wildlife, which is another factor that attracts tourists.

This basin is in fact one of the least developed in the whole of North America.

At the same time, the lack of development has hindered too many people from settling in the area.

How many months does the Yukon River stay frozen?

Approximately five months out of the year the Yukon River is frozen. The Yukon Quest, a dogsled race that runs from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon follows the Yukon River for much of its length.

One of the main Yukon River features is that the surrounding area experiences sub-arctic type of climatic conditions.

In these areas, the summers are typically very short and slightly warm.

On the other hand, the winters are long and very bitterly cold. For this reason, people living around these areas usually suffer a lot.

At the same time, the cold weather ensures that the people would be looking for fatty foods to keep themselves warm, which is found in the form of salmon.

The river stays frozen for around five months of the year, but in recent years, some of these trends have changed.

The main primary reason behind this is that the entire world is going through climate change.

For this reason, the river is unfreezing before time.

This has been causing major water and ice logging as well as other issues are coming up in terms of economic growth.

What lives in the Yukon River?

The Yukon River is known for the many species of wildlife that it supports the sustenance of. This river, therefore, supports a fully functional and beautiful ecosystem!

By the river's edge, it is common to find some moose.

Moose gathering is one of the many activities that tourists look forward to when they take a trip to the Yukon River area.

Grizzly bears are also commonly found in the valleys surrounding the Yukon River.

The valleys are covered in conifer forests.

However, the type and species of trees found in different parts of the valley vary greatly depending on the quality of the soil available there.

At the same time, it is also possible that you will be able to spot some ospreys and golden eagles when you visit the Yukon valley.

Some of the many other animals found in the area are mountain goats, caribou, lynxes, and deer.

Some of the fish species found in the Yukon River are Arctic grayling, pike, whitefish, and burbots.

Some of the bird species found here are ducks, geese, grouse, and swans.

FAQs

What is the average depth of the Yukon River?

The average depth of the Yukon River is around 30-40 ft (9.1-12.1 m).

What is important about the Yukon River?

A large chunk of the importance that the Yukon River now holds came from the Klondike Gold Rush. At this time, large crowds of people migrated to the area in the hopes of mining in the area. Until the completion of the Alaska Highway, this area was a major transportation hub and housed many people. In the present day and age, the Yukon River watershed houses over 30,000 people who depend on the river for their livelihood.

How did the Yukon River get its name?

The name 'Yukon' comes from an indigenous language called Gwich'in. In this language, the word 'Yukon' means 'great river'.

How many months does the Yukon River stay frozen?

The river stays frozen for around five months of the year.

Interesting facts about the Yukon River.

Yukon is the longest river in Alaska and the Yukon territory. It is the third-longest river in North America. The river starts in the Coastal Range mountains, located in the Canadian territory of British Columbia.

What lives in the Yukon River?

The Yukon River is known for the many species of wildlife including Arctic grayling, moose, geese, swans, pike, whitefish, and burbots.