Kiagna River facts for kids
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The Kiagna River is a river in Alaska, a state in the United States. It flows through a huge natural area called Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
Where the Kiagna River Flows
The Kiagna River is a smaller river that flows into the Chitina River. It joins the Chitina River about 30 miles (48 kilometers) below the Chitina Glacier. The Kiagna River starts high up in the mountains, between the Chitina River and Granite Creek.
This river is formed when three main streams come together. These streams get most of their water from melting snow and ice. The Kiagna River flows through a special type of valley called a glacial valley. This means the valley was shaped by ancient glaciers. It is straight, has steep sides, and is covered with many trees.
The eastern and western parts of the river are surrounded by tall mountains. But the smaller middle part flows from a glacier. Some of the water from this glacier flows into a stream that leads to Granite Creek. This means the Kiagna River area offers a path from the Chitina Valley to Granite Creek. Granite Creek flows west and is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of the Chitina River. It is found in an area of ice fields within the Chugach Range.
A Look Back in Time
The Kiagna River area was first explored by people looking for gold, called prospectors. This happened around 1904, after gold was found on nearby Dan and Chititu creeks. These prospectors claimed land, but they didn't do much mining.
In 1906 (or maybe 1905), two men named James Barkley and J. B. Miller traveled across an ice field from Yakataga beach to Granite Creek. From there, they made their way to the very start of the Kiagna River. They saw signs that Native American people already knew this route to the coast. They also found the land claims left by the earlier prospectors on the Kiagna. After a short visit, Barkley and Miller went back to Yakataga the same way they came.
In 1907, Barkley returned with William Jefferies. This time, they went around the east side of Granite Creek. Instead of going back to Yakataga, they traveled down the Chitina and Copper rivers to the coast. Other people visited the area from time to time after that. In the fall and winter of 1914–15, there was a small "gold rush" to the area. However, the people who went there didn't find much gold and soon left the area.
