Iliamna River facts for kids
The Iliamna River is a river in Alaska. It flows into a large body of water called Iliamna Lake. This river is an important waterway in a remote part of Alaska.
Where is the Iliamna River?
The Iliamna River is located in a beautiful area of Alaska. It flows into Iliamna Lake, which is one of the largest lakes in the state. The old village of Old Iliamna was once found close to where the river meets the lake.
Near the river, you can also find Guth's Lodge. The tall Chigmit Mountains are to the northeast of the river. Other places close to the river include Lonesome Point and Pile Bay Village.
An Important Shortcut
Even though there are no major roads connecting these communities to Alaska's main highway system, there is a special road. This road links Williamsport, Alaska on Iliamna Bay (which is on the coast) to Pike's Bay on Iliamna Lake. This 15-mile road is a very important shortcut for people traveling by boat.
How the Shortcut Works
Imagine you are a fishing boat trying to get from Cook Inlet to the rich fishing grounds of Bristol Bay. Normally, you would have to travel a very long way around the Alaska Peninsula. This journey is about 1,000 miles!
But with this special road, boats can save a lot of time and fuel. Here’s how:
- Boats cross Cook Inlet and land at Williamsport.
- Then, a company helps to tow the boats over the 15-mile road to Pile Bay.
- From Pile Bay, the boats can travel across Iliamna Lake.
- Finally, they go down the Kvichak River to reach the fishing areas at Bristol Bay.
This entire shortcut route is only about 320 miles. It saves boats from making a much longer, 1,000-mile trip around the Alaska Peninsula. Sometimes, heavy rains can cause flooding, which might stop boats from using this road for a short time. This happened in 2018.
River Challenges
The Iliamna River can sometimes flood. This means the water level rises and can cover nearby land. In 2016, there was an old bridge over the river. This bridge was a "truss bridge," which means it was built with a strong framework of connected triangles. A new bridge was being built to replace it. The old bridge was even offered for free to anyone who could take it away!
