Kugruk River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kugruk River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Kugruk River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Northwest Arctic |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Imuruk Lake Seward Peninsula 1,311 ft (400 m) 65°41′24″N 163°15′05″W / 65.69000°N 163.25139°W |
| River mouth | Kugruk Lagoon of Kotzebue Sound on the Chukchi Sea 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast of Cape Deceit 0 ft (0 m) 66°00′22″N 162°40′13″W / 66.00611°N 162.67028°W |
| Length | 60 mi (97 km) |
The Kugruk River is a 60-mile (97 km) long river in Alaska, a state in the United States. It's the biggest river that flows into the Kuzitrin River.
The river starts near Imuruk Lake on the Seward Peninsula. It flows north into Kugruk Lagoon, which is part of Kotzebue Sound and the Chukchi Sea. You can find where the river meets the lagoon about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast of Cape Deceit in the Northwest Arctic Borough.
Contents
River's Name and Past
Long ago, in the late 1800s, local Inuit people called this river "Koogroog." But some maps also called it "Mammoth" because mammoth bones were found nearby. Other maps called it "Swan."
In 1904, the United States Board on Geographic Names officially approved the name "Kugruk." This is the name used for the river today. Some mining for valuable minerals also happened on smaller streams that flow into the Kugruk River.
Where the River Flows
The Kugruk River is a large river that joins the Kuzitrin River from the north. It is about 60 miles (97 km) long, not counting its small twists and turns.
For most of its journey, the river flows through a deep valley called a canyon. This canyon is cut into a high, flat area that is about 1,200 to 1,800 feet (366 to 549 meters) high. About 10 miles (16 km) before it reaches its mouth, the Kugruk River leaves this canyon and flows into a flatter area.
The canyon runs mostly north and south for about 30 miles (48 km). In some parts, the canyon is very narrow. In other places, especially further upstream, the valley gets wider. Here, you can see flat areas called benches, which are about 20 feet (6 meters) above the river. These benches are covered with gravel.
Near Macklin Creek, the Kugruk River makes a sharp turn. Above this point, it flows from east to west, starting from the eastern side of Kugruk Mountain. The rocks along the Kugruk River are mostly changed rocks like mica-schists and calcareous schists. There are also large areas of greenstone, which is another type of rock.
Smaller Streams (Tributaries)
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into the Kugruk River.
Windy Creek
Windy Creek is a large stream that joins the Kugruk River from the west. It starts near Igloo Creek. Windy Creek flows through a deep canyon in the Kugruk Plateau. The gravels at its mouth contain greenstone, limestone, and mica-schist.
Neva Creek
Neva Creek is a short stream that flows into the Kugruk River from the east. It joins the river just a short distance above Windy Creek. The rocks at its mouth are gray mica-schist. People used to mine for minerals in the shallow gravels near the mouth of this creek.
North Fork
North Fork is a large stream that joins the Kugruk River from the east. It meets the river about 10 miles (16 km) above Windy Creek. Harris Creek is another stream that flows into North Fork.
Coarse Gold Creek
Coarse Gold Creek is a large stream that flows into the Kugruk River from the west. It joins the river about a mile above North Fork. This creek starts in the high land between the Kugruk and Agiapuk river areas. It flows eastward, cutting through different types of rocks.
Henry Creek
Henry Creek flows into the Kugruk River from the west. It starts in the high land south of Kugruk Mountain. It flows eastward through a deep canyon, cutting across different rock types.
Taylor Creek
The Kugruk River splits into two branches about 35 miles (56 km) from its mouth. The eastern branch is called Taylor Creek, and the western branch keeps the name Kugruk River. Taylor Creek starts southeast of Midnight Mountain and flows west to meet the Kugruk River. It flows through a valley about 800 feet (244 meters) deep.
Macklin Creek
Macklin Creek is a stream that joins the Kugruk River from the east. It meets the river about 6 miles (10 km) above Taylor Creek. Macklin Creek starts near Midnight Mountain and flows westward for about 6 miles (10 km). For several miles, Macklin Creek flows next to Schlitz Creek, which goes into the Serpentine River. There is a low pass between these two creeks, which might have been an old waterway. The creek flows through a wide valley. The rocks found here are dark, graphitic mica-schist.
