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List of rivers of Alaska facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Alaska is a huge state, and it's full of amazing natural features, especially its rivers! This article is a list of some of the most important rivers in Alaska. There are over 12,000 rivers in Alaska, plus thousands more smaller streams and creeks. The United States Geological Survey (a group that studies the Earth) has officially named about 9,728 of these waterways. If we know how long a river is, you'll see its length listed here.

BridgeOverTwentyMileRiver
The Twentymile River flows near the Seward Highway in January 2015.

Rivers by Where They Flow

Rivers flow into larger bodies of water, like oceans or big lakes. We call the area where a river and all its smaller streams drain into a main river a "drainage basin." This list groups rivers by which ocean or sea they eventually reach. Smaller rivers that flow into a bigger river are called "tributaries," and they are listed underneath the main river they join.

Rivers Flowing to the Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is at the very top of the world, and many Alaskan rivers flow north into it.

Rivers Flowing to the Bering Strait

The Bering Strait is a narrow waterway that separates Alaska from Russia. Rivers here flow west.

Rivers in the Yukon River Basin

The Yukon River is one of the longest rivers in North America. It flows through Canada and Alaska before reaching the Bering Sea. Many important Alaskan rivers are part of its huge basin.

Rivers Flowing to the Bering Sea

The Bering Sea is west of Alaska. Many rivers flow into it, especially from the large Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Roundtanglelake
The Tangle Lakes in the Alaska Range are where the Delta River begins. This area is a divide between rivers flowing to the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska.

Rivers Flowing to the Gulf of Alaska

The Gulf of Alaska is a large arm of the Pacific Ocean. Rivers here flow south.

Susitnabridge
The Denali Highway crosses the upper Susitna River.

Rivers in Southeast Alaska

Southeast Alaska is a region of islands and narrow strips of mainland, with many rivers flowing into the Pacific Ocean.

Images for kids

  • Lowekasilofriver

    The Kasilof River in autumn.

  • Matglacier

    Matanuska Glacier in the Chugach Mountains is the source of the Matanuska River.

  • Trans-Alaska Pipeline crossing a ridge by Tanana River

    The Trans-Alaska Pipeline crosses the Tanana River underground.

  • Snowriver

    The Snow River near Seward, Alaska.

See also

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List of rivers of Alaska Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.