Kukpowruk River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kukpowruk River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Kukpowruk River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | North Slope |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | De Long Mountains 2,872 ft (875 m) 68°26′20″N 162°29′49″W / 68.43889°N 162.49694°W |
| River mouth | Kasegaluk Lagoon, Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean 9 miles (14 km) south of Point Lay 0 ft (0 m) 69°36′57″N 163°01′06″W / 69.61583°N 163.01833°W |
| Length | 160 mi (260 km) |
The Kukpowruk River is a river in Alaska, a state in the United States. It is about 160 miles (257 kilometers) long. This river is found in the western part of the North Slope Borough.
The North Slope Borough is a very large area in northern Alaska. It is known for its cold, Arctic climate and vast, open lands.
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Where the Kukpowruk River Flows
The Kukpowruk River starts in a mountain range called the De Long Mountains. These mountains are part of the larger Brooks Range in western Alaska. The river then flows north across the land.
Journey to the Sea
The river's journey ends when it flows into the Kasegaluk Lagoon. This lagoon is a body of water that is connected to the Chukchi Sea. The Chukchi Sea is part of the Arctic Ocean.
The mouth of the river, where it meets the lagoon, is located about 9 miles (14 kilometers) south of a place called Point Lay. Point Lay is a small village in this remote part of Alaska.
The Meaning of the Name
The name "Kukpowruk" comes from the Inuit languages. The Inuit are the native people who live in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.
The name "Kukpowruk" likely means "fairly large stream" or simply "a stream." This name describes the river well, as it is quite long. In the late 1800s, people sometimes spelled its name as "Kook Pow ruk."
Land Around the River
A group called the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation owns much of the land along the Kukpowruk River. This corporation is owned by the Iñupiat people of the North Slope. They work to manage their lands and resources in the region.
