Eureka Creek facts for kids

Eureka Creek is a small stream that flows into Baker Creek in the U.S. state of Alaska. Other streams that flow into Baker Creek nearby are Thanksgiving Creek, Gold Run Creek, and Pioneer Creek. Seattle Junior Creek is a smaller stream that flows into Pioneer Creek.

Where Eureka Creek Flows

Eureka Creek flows southwest, following the base of the hills that separate Baker Creek from Minook Creek. It travels in a straight line for about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) towards the southwest. Then, it turns and flows south for about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) until it meets Pioneer Creek.

Smaller Streams Joining Eureka Creek

Eureka Creek has several small streams that flow into it from its northwest side. However, no streams join it from the southeast side. The biggest of these smaller streams is Boston Creek, which is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) long. Boston Creek joins Eureka Creek where it makes its turn. The other streams that flow into Eureka Creek are very tiny, like small trickles of water.

The Valley Around the Creek

Eureka Creek is a small stream. During most of the year, it carries only a small amount of water, especially above where Boston Creek joins it. The valley around the creek has different slopes. On the northwest side, the ground slopes gently upwards towards the hills. But on the southeast side, the slope is very steep, rising about 400 to 600 feet (120 to 180 meters) above the valley floor. The creek flows very close to the bottom of this steep side.

The Ground Around the Creek

The gravel (small stones) found in Eureka Creek is not very worn down. This shows that the stream is not very strong. In some places, the stream bed has moved towards the southeast, leaving old gravel deposits up the hill for at least 500 feet (150 meters). These older gravels are made entirely of the local rocks.

The thickness of these gravel deposits can vary a lot, from 5 to 18 feet (1.5 to 5.5 meters). On top of the gravel, there is a layer of sticky mud, called muck. This muck layer can be anywhere from 0 to 8 feet (0 to 2.4 meters) thick, and its thickness changes unevenly. The total thickness of the gravel and muck together ranges from 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters). The gravel itself contains a lot of very sticky clay. This clay seems to come from the breakdown of both the grit (sandy rock) and the slates (layered rocks) in the area.

History of Gold Discovery

Gold was first found in Eureka Creek in February 1899.