Chatanika River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chatanika River |
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Chatanika River panorama
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 Location of the mouth of the Chatanika River in Alaska
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| Native name | Ch'edenano' |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| District | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence of McManus and Smith creeks Yukon–Tanana Uplands, Fairbanks North Star Borough 1,569 ft (478 m) 65°17′28″N 146°20′38″W / 65.29111°N 146.34389°W |
| River mouth | Tolovana River 48 miles (77 km) northwest of Fairbanks, Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area 302 ft (92 m) 65°04′36″N 149°16′38″W / 65.07667°N 149.27722°W |
| Length | 128 mi (206 km) |
The Chatanika River (called Ch'edenano in the Lower Tanana language) is a river in Alaska, USA. It is about 128-mile (206 km) long. The Chatanika River flows into the Tolovana River. The Tolovana River then joins the Tanana River, which flows into the mighty Yukon River. This means the Chatanika River is part of the huge Yukon River system.
The Chatanika River starts in the mountains of the northeastern Alaska Range. It flows west through valleys and uplands. Then it reaches the Minto Flats, which is a marshy area with many streams and lakes. The town of Chatanika is also named after the river.
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A River's Golden Past
In the early 1900s, the Chatanika River was very important for gold mining. Miners used the river's water to power large machines called dredges. These machines dug up the riverbed to find gold.
The Davidson Ditch Project
A big project called the Davidson Ditch was built to help with gold mining. It was a system of dams and pipelines. This ditch moved water from the Chatanika River to gold mines closer to Fairbanks. The Davidson Ditch was used until the 1950s.
Restoring the River's Flow
In 1967, a big flood damaged the dam of the Davidson Ditch. It stopped working. In 2002, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service worked together. They removed the dam. This helped the Chatanika River flow naturally again.
Fun Activities on the Chatanika River
Today, the upper part of the Chatanika River is a popular place for outdoor fun. People enjoy rafting and fishing there. Many vacation cabins have been built along the riverbanks.
Boating Adventures
You can explore the Chatanika River in many types of boats. These include canoes, kayaks, and rafts. The Elliott Highway and the Steese Highway cross or run next to the river. This makes it easy to start or end your boating trips. There are public campgrounds and rest stops along these highways. They offer good access points to the river.
The entire river is considered "Class I" (easy) for boating. This means it's generally calm. However, you should watch out for dangers like fallen trees and stumps.
Fishing for Alaskan Fish
The Chatanika River is home to many kinds of fish. You might catch:
- Arctic grayling
- Arctic lamprey
- Burbot
- Chum salmon
- Humpback whitefish
- King salmon
- Least cisco
- Longnose suckers
- Northern pike
- Sheefish
- Slimy sculpins
Parks Along the Chatanika River
There are two state parks located along the Chatanika River. They offer great places for camping, picnics, and river access.
Upper Chatanika River State Recreation Site
This park is located at mile 39 on the Steese Highway. It's a smaller park, about 73 acres (30 ha) in size. It has a campground and a boat launch. There's also an access road to a gravel bar on the river. This gravel bar is a good spot for different outdoor activities. Just be aware that it can flood when it rains a lot.
Lower Chatanika River State Recreation Area
This larger park is about 400 acres (160 ha) and is at mile 11 of the Elliott Highway. It has two small campgrounds and picnic areas. You can also access the river from here. There's even a stocked fishing pond, which means fish are added to it for people to catch.
These two parks are set up so you can start a boat trip at the Upper park and paddle all the way to the Lower park in one day.
Davidson Ditch Historic Site
The Davidson Ditch Historic Site protects the remains of the old Davidson Ditch. The Bureau of Land Management helps to preserve this important piece of history.
Images for kids
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The Chatanika River, as seen from the Steese Highway, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska.
