Innoko River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Innoko River |
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Innoko River in summer
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 Location of the mouth of the Innoko River in Alaska
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| Native name | Yooniq - "upland" |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Yukon–Koyukuk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | south of Cloudy Mountain Innoko National Wildlife Refuge 2,325 ft (709 m) 63°08′55″N 156°01′30″W / 63.14861°N 156.02500°W |
| River mouth | Yukon River 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Holy Cross 26 ft (7.9 m) 62°11′45″N 159°43′15″W / 62.19583°N 159.72083°W |
| Length | 500 mi (800 km) |
The Innoko River is a long river in Alaska, a state in the United States. It flows for about 500 miles (800 km) and is a branch of the much larger Yukon River. The local Deg Xinag people call it Yooniq, which means "upland."
Where is the Innoko River?
The Innoko River starts south of Cloudy Mountain in the Kuskokwim Mountains. It first flows north, then turns southwest. Finally, it joins the Yukon River near a town called Holy Cross. The entire river is located within the Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area in Alaska.
What's in a Name?
The name Innoko comes from the Deg Hit’an people, who are a Native Alaskan group. They have lived along this river for a very long time.
In the 1800s, when Russian explorers and administrators were in Alaska, they used different names for the river. Some of these names included Shiltonotno, Legon or Tlegon, Chagelyuk or Shageluk, and Ittege.
Nature's Home: Innoko National Wildlife Refuge
A large part of the upper Innoko River flows through the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a special protected area. It helps to keep the natural environment safe for many animals and plants. It's an important place for wildlife in Alaska.
