Kokolik River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kokolik River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Kokolik River in Alaska
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| Native name | Qaqalik |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | North Slope |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | De Long Mountains 2,631 ft (802 m) 68°30′21″N 162°09′45″W / 68.50583°N 162.16250°W |
| River mouth | Kasegaluk Lagoon, Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Point Lay 0 ft (0 m) 69°46′15″N 162°59′48″W / 69.77083°N 162.99667°W |
| Length | 200 mi (320 km) |
The Kokolik River is a long river in Alaska, USA. It flows through the wild North Slope region. This river is about 200 miles (320 km) long. It starts in the De Long Mountains and ends in the Kasegaluk Lagoon. This lagoon connects to the Chukchi Sea and the Arctic Ocean.
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Discover the Kokolik River
The Kokolik River is an important waterway in northern Alaska. It is known for its remote location and natural beauty. The river flows through a vast area of tundra, which is a treeless plain.
Where is the Kokolik River?
The Kokolik River begins in the De Long Mountains. These mountains are part of the larger Brooks Range. From there, the river flows generally north and northwest. It travels across the flat North Slope region.
The river's journey ends when it reaches the Kasegaluk Lagoon. This lagoon is a large body of water along the coast. The mouth of the river is about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of a small village called Point Lay. This area is right on the edge of the Chukchi Sea, which is part of the Arctic Ocean.
What's in a Name?
The name Kokolik comes from the Iñupiaq language. The Iñupiaq people are the native inhabitants of this region. In their language, the river is called Qaqalik. This name refers to a plant called the alpine bistort. This plant is edible and grows in the area.
Another old name for the river was Kepizetka. This name was recorded on an Inuit map in the late 1800s. Kepizetka (or qipigsatqaq) means "it twists" or "crooked". This describes how the river flows with many bends.
A Summer Fire in the Tundra
In the summer of 1977, a tundra fire happened near the Kokolik River. It was located east of Point Lay. This fire was likely caused by lightning. It burned about 44 square kilometers (17 square miles) of land.
The fire occurred during a very dry period in the region. The area that burned was close to the National Petroleum Reserve. This fire was notable because it was the furthest north that the Bureau of Land Management had ever fought a tundra fire.
