Kukpuk River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kukpuk River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Kukpuk River in Alaska
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| Native name | Kuukpak |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | North Slope |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | De Long Mountains 2,092 ft (638 m) 68°19′27″N 163°24′54″W / 68.32417°N 163.41500°W |
| River mouth | East end of Marryat Inlet 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Point Hope, Chukchi Sea, Arctic Ocean 0 ft (0 m) 68°24′57″N 166°22′37″W / 68.41583°N 166.37694°W |
| Length | 125 mi (201 km) |
The Kukpuk River is a stream in the western part of Alaska, a large state in the United States. It is about 125 miles (201 kilometers) long. This river flows through the North Slope Borough, which is a huge area in northern Alaska.
About the Kukpuk River
The Kukpuk River begins high up in the De Long Mountains. These mountains are part of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. From there, the river flows generally towards the west.
Where the River Flows
As the Kukpuk River travels, it crosses an area called the Lisburne Peninsula. This peninsula sticks out into the Chukchi Sea. The river eventually reaches its end at Marryat Inlet. This inlet is a small bay connected to the larger Chukchi Sea.
The mouth of the river, where it meets the sea, is about 12 miles (19 kilometers) northeast of a town called Point Hope. The Chukchi Sea is part of the huge Arctic Ocean.
What's in a Name?
The name "Kukpuk" comes from the Iñupiaq people. The Iñupiaq are native people of Alaska. In their language, the river is called Kuukpak.
The word "Kuukpak" means "big river." This name fits well because the Kukpuk River is one of the important waterways in this part of Alaska. In the late 1800s, some people used to spell it "Kookpuk."
