Yukon River

The Yukon River is a major watercourse in northwestern North America. It is the longest river in both Alaska and the Yukon territory. The river flows through Canada and the United States. It eventually empties into the Bering Sea at the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta. The total drainage area is quite massive. It is more than 25% larger than the province of Alberta or the state of Texas.

The exact source of the river is a subject of debate among experts. Most geologists and hydrologists agree the headwaters are in the Coast Mountain range in British Columbia. The United States Geographic Survey identifies the Llewellyn Glacier at the southern end of Atlin Lake as the generally accepted source. Other researchers suggest the source might be Lake Lindeman near the Chilkoot Trail. Regardless of the starting point, the water follows a complex path. Atlin Lake flows into Tagish Lake via the Atlin River. Tagish Lake then flows into Marsh Lake through the Tagish River. The Yukon River proper begins at the northern end of Marsh Lake, just south of Whitehorse.

The name of the river has a deep history tied to the Gwich'in people. The word Yukon is a contraction of the Gwich'in phrase "chųų gąįį han." This phrase translates to "white water river." The name refers to the pale color of glacial runoff. In the 1840s, different nations had different names for the river. For example, the Kang-ulit people called it Kvikhpak. The Koyukon people called it Yuna. Many of these local names meant "Big River." One historical report suggested Yukon meant "big river," but research has not verified this. Instead, the evidence points to the Gwich'in meaning of "white water river."

Historically, the river was a vital path for travel and trade. During the Klondike Gold Rush between 1896 and 1903, it was a principal means of transportation. Paddle-wheel riverboats continued to move people and goods until the 1950s. This service ended when the Klondike Highway was completed. After the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, the Alaska Commercial Company built several posts along the river. Today, a portion of the river in the Yukon is protected. The "Thirty Mile" section, from Lake Laberge to the Teslin River, is a national heritage river. It is also part of the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park.

Many communities are located along the banks of the Yukon. In Canada, the river passes through Whitehorse, Carmacks, and Dawson City. In Alaska, it passes by many places, including Eagle, Fort Yukon, and Mountain Village. After Mountain Village, the river enters the delta. Here, the main channel frays into many smaller channels. This area is known locally as the "head of passes." One large community in this delta is Emmonak, which had roughly 760 people in the 2000 census.

Crossing the river presents unique challenges. There are only four vehicle-carrying bridges across the entire river. These are the Lewes Bridge, the Robert Campbell Bridge, the Yukon River Bridge at Carmacks, and the E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge.

In Dawson City, a car ferry crosses the river during the summer. In the winter, an ice bridge is used once the river freezes. For heavy transport, barges move goods like oil and vehicles during the summer months.

The ecology of the river involves many different environments. The upper slopes of the watershed, such as the Nulato Hills, are forested by Black Spruce. This is a very common conifer in northern North America. The river flows through several protected areas. These include the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge and the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.

While there has been recent pollution from military installations and wastewater, the river remains important. The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council works to keep the water safe. This group includes 70 First Nations and tribes from Alaska and Canada. They monitor the water to ensure it is safe to drink.