Kvichak River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kvichak River |
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Kvichak River
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 Location of the mouth of the Kvichak River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Lake and Peninsula, Bristol Bay |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Iliamna Lake Lake and Peninsula 46 ft (14 m) 59°19′51″N 155°52′56″W / 59.33083°N 155.88222°W |
| River mouth | Kvichak Bay 9 miles (14 km) north of Naknek, Bristol Bay, Alaska Peninsula 0 ft (0 m) 58°52′50″N 157°02′14″W / 58.88056°N 157.03722°W |
| Length | 50 mi (80 km) |
The Kvichak River is a large and important river in southwestern Alaska, United States. It flows for about 50 miles (80 km) from Iliamna Lake, which is Alaska's biggest freshwater lake. The river ends in Kvichak Bay, which is part of Bristol Bay on the Alaska Peninsula.
Contents
Kvichak River: Location and Flow
The Kvichak River starts at Iliamna Lake and flows southwest. It passes by the small communities of Igiugig and Levelock. The river is deep enough for boats to travel its entire length. This makes it a useful shortcut for boats moving between Cook Inlet and Bristol Bay. They can use a special route called the Lake Iliamna portage. A portage is a path where boats or goods are carried over land between two bodies of water.
Amazing Salmon Run
The Kvichak River is famous for something truly special: it has the largest run of red salmon in the entire world! Every year, millions of these bright red fish swim upstream to lay their eggs. This huge salmon run is very important for the local economy. Fishing companies catch many salmon here, bringing in hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars each year. This makes the Kvichak River a key place for the fishing industry in Alaska.
Why is the Salmon Run So Big?
The large size of Iliamna Lake and the clean, cold waters of the Kvichak River create perfect conditions for salmon. These conditions help the young salmon grow strong before they head out to the ocean. When they return as adults, they find their way back to this very river to continue their life cycle.
History and Importance
For a very long time, the Kvichak River has been important to the local Alaska Natives. They have used the river for travel and for catching fish to feed their families. The name "Kvichak" itself comes from their language. It means "from" or "up to" "great water," which refers to the huge Iliamna Lake.
In 2017, the Kvichak River was recognized for its excellent management. It was a finalist for the Riverprize Award. This award celebrates rivers that are managed well and used in a way that protects them for the future.
Future of the River
The Kvichak River is part of a larger area known as a watershed. This watershed includes the land and smaller streams that drain into the river. A proposed mining project, called the Pebble Mine, is located upstream in this watershed. People are carefully watching how any future developments might affect the river and its amazing salmon population.
