Lemon Creek (Alaska) facts for kids
Lemon Creek is a stream found in the U.S. state of Alaska. Most of its water comes from the meltwater of Lemon Creek Glacier and another nearby glacier. People say the creek was named after a miner named John Lemon. He reportedly had a gold mine along the creek way back in 1879.
Contents
The Journey of Lemon Creek
Lemon Creek flows past the Lemon Creek Correctional Center, which is a prison. It then goes under a bridge on Juneau's main Glacier Highway. Finally, the creek empties into the Gastineau Channel. This spot is about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the city of Juneau.
Exploring Lemon Creek Valley
The area that drains into Lemon Creek is about 30 square miles (78 sq km). Its valley stretches into the Coast Range for about 8 miles (13 km). Several smaller streams, called tributaries, join Lemon Creek from the south. One of these side valleys holds a large glacier. This glacier connects with the ice from the main valley's beginning. It reaches a point only 6 miles (10 km) from where the creek ends.
The valley itself is quite deep. The mountains around it, like Blackerby and Heintzleman Ridge, rise to heights of 3,500 to 4,000 feet (1,067 to 1,219 meters). Some peaks near the creek's source are even taller, over 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) high.
The creek bed is located on the north side of the valley. On this side, the smaller streams are close together. Their channels are not very deep in the mountain's side.
Water Flow and Features
The way the main stream slopes changes along its path. Near its mouth, the valley is filled with a delta deposit. This is land formed by sediment carried by the creek. It is only a few feet above high tide. This flat area extends upstream for more than a mile (1.6 km).
Above this flat area, there is a short, narrow canyon carved into rock. At the top of this canyon, you can find a small waterfall or cascade. After that, there is a narrow, gravelly flat area about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. Here, the creek drops about 200 feet per mile (38 meters per km).
Further upstream, another cascade causes the water to drop several hundred feet in just half a mile (0.8 km). Above this, the slope becomes gentler. You can find short, gravelly flat areas here and there. These are separated by steeper sections that lead all the way to the foot of the glacier.
The Lemon Creek Neighborhood
The area around the creek is also called "Lemon Creek." Locals often use this name to refer to the neighborhood, not just the creek itself.
