List of rivers of Yukon facts for kids

Map Yukon, Canada

Yukon is a large and wild territory in Canada, known for its amazing natural beauty. A big part of this beauty comes from its many rivers! These rivers are like nature's highways, flowing through mountains, forests, and valleys. They are super important for animals, plants, and even for people who live there.

Rivers in Yukon flow into three different oceans: the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. This means that depending on where a river starts, its water will eventually end up in one of these huge bodies of water.

Rivers Flowing to the Arctic Ocean

This group of rivers carries water northwards, eventually reaching the Arctic Ocean. Imagine all the rain and melted snow in this area slowly making its way to the top of the world!

Mackenzie River Watershed

The Mackenzie River is one of the longest rivers in North America. Some rivers in Yukon are part of its huge watershed, meaning their water eventually joins the Mackenzie.

• The Liard River is a big river that flows through Yukon. It has many smaller rivers joining it, like the Rancheria River and the Frances River.
• The Peel River is another important river in this area. It collects water from rivers like the Wind River and the Snake River. These rivers are often found in wild, remote areas.

Other Arctic Rivers

Other rivers in Yukon flow directly into the Arctic Ocean, not through the Mackenzie River.

• The Firth River is one of these.
• The Blow River also flows into the Arctic Ocean.

Rivers Flowing to the Bering Sea

The Bering Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean, located between Alaska and Russia. Many of Yukon's most famous rivers, including its namesake, flow towards this sea.

Yukon River

The Yukon River is the longest river in Yukon, stretching about 1,973 miles (3,175 km)! It's a very important river for the territory. For thousands of years, people have used it for travel and fishing. During the Klondike Gold Rush, it was a main route for miners hoping to find gold.

Many other rivers and lakes feed into the Yukon River:

• Marsh Lake is one of the first big lakes the Yukon River flows through.
• The Teslin River is a major tributary that joins the Yukon River. It starts from Teslin Lake, which is fed by rivers like the Nisutlin River.
• The Pelly River is another large river that flows into the Yukon River. It has its own tributaries, including the Ross River and the Macmillan River.
• The Stewart River was very important during the Gold Rush. Rivers like the Hess River and McQuesten River join it.
• The White River is known for its milky-white color, which comes from volcanic ash and glacial silt. The Donjek River and Kluane River (which flows from Kluane Lake) are part of its system.
• The Klondike River is famous because of the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s. Many small creeks, like Bonanza Creek and Eldorado Creek, where a lot of gold was found, flow into the Klondike River.
• The Porcupine River is a long river that flows into the Yukon River further north. It has many branches, including the Bell River and the Old Crow River.

Rivers Flowing to the Pacific Ocean

Some rivers in the southern part of Yukon flow directly into the Pacific Ocean, often through the narrow strip of Alaska known as the Alaska Panhandle.

• The Alsek River is a powerful river known for its beautiful scenery and challenging whitewater rafting. The Kaskawulsh River and Dezadeash River are some of its main branches.
• The Tatshenshini River is another wild and scenic river that flows into the Pacific. It's popular for wilderness trips.

See also

• List of rivers of Canada
• List of rivers of the Americas