Baranof River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baranof River |
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The source of Baranof River.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Region | Southeast Alaska |
| City | Sitka |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Alaska |
| Length | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
The Baranof River is a cool river found on the eastern side of Baranof Island. This island is part of the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska. The river gets its water from melting ice and snow in the mountains.
The Baranof River starts high up in the unnamed icefields around a mountain called Peak 5390. It flows into Baranof Lake. The water that leaves Baranof Lake and flows into Warm Springs Bay is also known as the Baranof River.
Baranof River: A Glacial Stream
The Baranof River is special because it is glacially-fed. This means its water comes from melting glaciers and large areas of ice. This makes the river very cold and clear. It's like the river is drinking directly from a giant ice cube!
The river is about 15 kilometers (or 9.3 miles) long. It winds its way through beautiful Alaskan wilderness. The journey of the water from the icefields to the bay is quite an adventure.
How Much Water Flows?
Scientists measure how much water flows in rivers. This is called "discharge." The highest amount of water ever measured flowing out of Baranof Lake was 4,170 cu ft/s (118 m3/s). This huge amount of water was recorded in September 1922. Imagine that much water rushing by!
Who Was Baranof?
The Baranof River was named after a very important historical figure, Alexandr Baranov. He was the first governor of the Russian-American Company. This company was a big trading group that operated in Alaska when it was owned by Russia.
Alexandr Baranov played a key role in the early history of Russian America. Naming the river after him was a way to honor his influence in the region.
