Kenai River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kenai River |
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The Kenai River at Cooper Landing, July 2008
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Kenai Lake |
| River mouth | Cook Inlet Kenai 0 m (0 ft) 60°32′38″N 151°16′43″W / 60.54389°N 151.27861°W |
| Length | 82 mi (132 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,010 sq mi (5,200 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The Kenai River is a famous river in south-central Alaska. It is known as Kahtnu in the Dena'ina language and Кенай in Russian. This river is the longest on the Kenai Peninsula.
The Kenai River flows for about 82 miles (132 km) (132 km). It starts at Kenai Lake in the Kenai Mountains. From there, it travels through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Skilak Lake. Finally, it empties into the Cook Inlet of the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Kenai and Soldotna are located near its mouth.
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Exploring the Kenai River's Geography
The Kenai River is a meltwater river. This means its water comes from melting ice and snow. It drains the central part of the Kenai Peninsula. The river begins at Kenai Lake.
Near Cooper Landing, the lake narrows and forms the river. About 12 miles (19 km) (19 km) from the lake, the river flows through Kenai Canyon. This part has about 2 miles (3.2 km) (3 km) of exciting whitewater rapids. The Russian River joins the Kenai a few miles west of Cooper Landing.
Sections of the River
The Kenai River is often divided into three main parts:
- Upper River: This section runs from Kenai Lake to Skilak Lake. It is about 17.3 miles (27.8 km) (27.8 km) long.
- Middle River: This part stretches from Skilak Lake to the Sterling Highway bridge near Soldotna. It is about 19.5 miles (31.4 km) (31.4 km) long.
- Lower River: This is the final 21 miles (34 km) (34 km) from the bridge to where the river meets Cook Inlet. The water here flows much more gently. The last 12 miles (19 km) (19 km) are affected by the ocean's tides.
Amazing Fish of the Kenai River
The Kenai River is a very popular place for sport fishing in Alaska. It is especially famous for its large king salmon. Many different types of salmon come to the Kenai River each year.
Types of Salmon in the Kenai
- King Salmon (Chinook): There are two runs of king salmon each year. The world record king salmon, weighing about 44 kg (97 lb), was caught here in 1985. Kings in the second run (mid-July) often weigh 18–23 kg (40–85 pounds). The "Lower Kenai" is known for its huge king salmon. Sometimes, fishing for king salmon is limited due to fewer fish returning.
- Coho Salmon (Silver): These salmon arrive in early August and again in early October. Anglers often prefer the September run because the fish are larger.
- Sockeye Salmon (Red): Sockeye salmon runs happen in late June and early August. Many people think sockeye are the best salmon for eating, canning, and smoking.
- Pink Salmon (Humpy): Pink salmon only come to the river in even-numbered years. Some anglers consider them a nuisance because they can get in the way of catching other fish. Their meat can also be soft and oily when they reach freshwater. On a good day, a fisher might catch dozens of these.
Other Fish Species
The Kenai River is also home to very large rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. These fish can grow to be over 76.2 cm (30 inches) long. Sometimes, people even report catching "Steelhead," which are sea-run trout.
Other Wildlife in the Kenai Area
Besides its famous fish, the Kenai River area is full of other amazing wildlife. You might see large animals like moose and different kinds of bears. Many species of birds also live near the river.
Managing the Kenai River
More than 105 miles (169 km) (169 km) of the Kenai River and its lakes are specially managed. This area is called the Kenai River Special Management Area. It is overseen by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. This special area stretches from about 4 miles (6.4 km) (6 km) inland from the river's mouth to 82 miles (132 km) (132 km) upstream. There are also fifteen different parks located next to this management district.
