Kuk River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kuk River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Kuk River in Alaska
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| Native name | Kuuk |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | North Slope |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Kaolak and Avalik rivers National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska 8 ft (2.4 m) 70°07′19″N 159°40′16″W / 70.12194°N 159.67111°W |
| River mouth | Wainwright Inlet, Arctic Ocean 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Wainwright 0 ft (0 m) 70°36′29″N 160°06′40″W / 70.60806°N 160.11111°W |
| Length | 35 mi (56 km) |
The Kuk River is a stream in the North Slope Borough of Alaska, a state in the United States. It is about 35-mile (56 km) long. The river starts where two other rivers, the Avalik and Kaolak, join together. It then flows north until it reaches Wainwright Inlet. This inlet is about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of a town called Wainwright. The water from Wainwright Inlet eventually flows into the Chukchi Sea, which is part of the huge Arctic Ocean.
What's in a Name?
The name of the Kuk River comes from the Iñupiaq word Kuuk, which simply means river. The Iñupiaq people are Native Alaskans who have lived in this region for thousands of years.
How the Name Changed Over Time
When explorers and mapmakers first came to Alaska in the 1800s, they often wrote down names differently. Maps from the 19th century show the streams flowing into Wainwright Inlet with various names. Some of these names included "Koh," "Kong," "Tutua Wing," "Ku," "Kook," "Koo," and "Kee." Over time, the name "Kuk" became the official one for this river.
Where is the Kuk River?
The Kuk River is located in the northern part of Alaska, in a region called the North Slope Borough. This area is very cold and mostly flat, with many rivers and lakes. The river's source, where it begins, is in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. This is a large area of land set aside for its natural resources. The river then travels north towards the Arctic coast.
