Chena River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chena River |
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A paddle-wheel steamer on the Chena River near Fairbanks
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 Location of the mouth of the Chena River in Alaska
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| Native name | Ch'eno' |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Fairbanks North Star |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | confluence of the river's north and west forks near Chena Hot Springs 1,024 ft (312 m) 65°03′18″N 146°10′45″W / 65.05500°N 146.17917°W |
| River mouth | Tanana River 6.5 miles (10.5 km) west-southwest of Fairbanks 423 ft (129 m) 64°47′44″N 147°54′43″W / 64.79556°N 147.91194°W |
| Length | 100 mi (160 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,980 sq mi (5,100 km2) |
The Chena River is a 100-mile (160 km) long river in Alaska. It flows into the Tanana River. The local Tanana Athabascan people call it Ch'eno', which means "river of something (game)".
The Chena River starts in the White Mountains and flows west. It passes by the city of Fairbanks, which is built on both sides of the river. The Tanana River, which the Chena joins, eventually flows into the 2,300-mile (3,700 km) long Yukon River.
Many smaller streams flow into the Chena River. These include the North Fork, South Fork, West Fork, Middle (East) Fork, and the Little Chena River. A large area around the upper part of the river is protected as the Chena River State Recreation Area. People enjoy fishing and boating on the Chena River. In winter, it's also used by snowmachines and dog sled teams.
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Why Was the Chena River Dam Built?
A special dam called the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project dam is located about 40 miles (64 km) upstream from Fairbanks. This dam was built after a big flood in 1967. That flood covered much of Fairbanks with water.
The dam helps control the river's flow. When there's too much water, the dam can close. This holds back the water and sends it through a special channel about 8 miles (13 km) long. This channel diverts the water to the Tanana River, away from Fairbanks and the Chena's natural mouth. This protects the city from future floods.
What Fish Live in the Chena River?
The Chena River is home to many different kinds of fish. Some of these include Arctic grayling, burbot, chum salmon, humpback whitefish, king salmon, least cisco, longnose suckers, northern pike, round whitefish, and sheefish.
Because it's easy to reach from Fairbanks, the Chena River is a very popular spot for sport fishing in interior Alaska.
Fishing for Arctic Grayling
By the mid-1980s, too much fishing had caused the number of grayling in the Chena River to drop very low. Today, if you catch a grayling, you must release it back into the river. This rule helps protect these fish, which can grow up to 18 inches (46 cm) long in the upper river.
Boating Adventures on the Chena River
The Chena River is great for boat trips because it's easy to get to. There are many access points along Chena Hot Springs Road, in the Chena River Recreation Area, and near the four bridges that cross the river.
River Difficulty Levels
Most of the Chena River is considered "Class I" (easy) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. This means the water is calm with few waves. However, the very top parts of the North Fork, near Chena Hot Springs, are much faster. These sections are rated "Class II" (medium) because they have strong currents and fewer safe spots to rest. If the water level is high, the river can become even more difficult.
Things to Watch Out For While Boating
When boating on the North Fork, the river channel is much narrower than the main part of the Chena. You might also find logjams (piles of logs), branches hanging over the water, or shallow areas. Sometimes, you might even need to carry your boat around these obstacles.
Further downstream, you should still watch out for overhanging branches, logjams, and places where the river splits into many smaller channels. Early in the season, usually in June, boaters might also encounter ice jams anywhere along the river.
Images for kids
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A panorama from the banks of the Chena River in Fairbanks
