Kruzgamepa River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kruzgamepa River (Pilgrim River) |
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 Location of the mouth of the Kruzgamepa River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| District | Nome Census Area |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Salmon Lake southeast of the Kigluaik Mountains, Seward Peninsula 447 ft (136 m) 64°55′00″N 164°57′30″W / 64.91667°N 164.95833°W |
| River mouth | Kuzitrin River 34 miles (55 km) east-southeast of Teller 20 ft (6.1 m) 65°09′21″N 165°13′21″W / 65.15583°N 165.22250°W |
| Length | 55 mi (89 km) |
The Kruzgamepa River (also called the Pilgrim River) is a river in Alaska, United States. It flows for about 55-mile (89 km) (89 km). This river is a branch of the Kuzitrin River. Both rivers are located on the Seward Peninsula.
The Kruzgamepa River starts at Salmon Lake. This lake is about 447 feet (136 m) (136 m) above sea level. The river then flows down to about 20 feet (6.1 m) (6 m) above sea level where it joins the Kuzitrin River. The Kuzitrin River eventually flows into the Imuruk Basin. From there, the water goes through Port Clarence Bay and finally reaches the Bering Sea.
Interestingly, the Kruzgamepa River and the Grand Central River are actually part of the same water system. The Grand Central River flows into Salmon Lake, and the Kruzgamepa River flows out of it.
Contents
River Journey: From Mountains to Sea
The Kruzgamepa River starts its journey in a wide valley. This valley is at the southern base of the Kigluaik Mountains. The river first flows northeast. Then, it curves around the eastern side of the mountains. After that, it turns northwest to reach the Imuruk Basin.
The River Valley
The Kruzgamepa River flows through a wide valley filled with gravel. This gravel was left behind by glaciers that once moved down from the Kigluaik Mountains. Near a place called Iron Creek, you can see large gravel terraces. These terraces are like flat steps on the sides of the river. They are about 50 feet (15 m) (15 m) above the water.
River History and Gold Prospecting
For many years, people have explored the Kruzgamepa River area. They were looking for valuable minerals, especially gold.
Mining Along the River
The area around the upper Kruzgamepa River was once known as the Golden Gate mining district. Now, it is part of the Kougarok mining district. People have done some prospecting here, which means searching for gold.
Iron Creek and Willow Creek
Iron Creek is the largest stream that flows into the Kruzgamepa River from the east. It has been important for mining. Another stream, Willow Creek, is about 3 miles (5 km) (5 km) long. It joins the Kruzgamepa from the south. Near where Willow Creek meets the Kruzgamepa, it flows through a small rock canyon. This canyon is about 50 feet (15 m) (15 m) deep. Above the canyon, there are flat areas on both sides covered with gravel. These flat areas are actually old valley floors. The stream has cut its way deeper over time to create the canyon we see today.
The rocks in this area are mostly limestone and quartz schist. These rocks formed from sediments. There are also some greenstones, which are igneous rocks that pushed their way into the other rocks.
Slate Creek and Early Gold Finds
Slate Creek is another small stream, about 2 miles (3 km) (3 km) long. It joins the Kruzgamepa River from the south, about 2 miles (3 km) (3 km) upstream from Willow Creek. The rocks around Slate Creek are similar to those at Willow Creek.
Since 1901, people have worked on both Willow Creek and Slate Creek. They have found some gold there. In 1904, a company explored a high gravel area between Slate and Willow creeks. They planned to bring water from Salmon Lake to use for hydraulic mining. This method uses powerful jets of water to wash away gravel and find gold.
