Niukluk River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Niukluk River
Country	United States
State	Alaska
District	Nome Census Area
Physical characteristics
Main source	Bendeleben Mountains of the Seward Peninsula 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Mount Bendeleben 2,780 ft (850 m)
River mouth	Fish River 34 miles (55 km) northeast of Solomon
Length	52 mi (84 km)

Niukluk River is a waterway in the U.S. state of Alaska. It rises in the Bendeleben Mountains and, after flowing across a broad valley lowland for about 15 miles (24 km), enters a narrower valley, in which it flows for about 20 miles (32 km). Below the mouth of Melsing Creek, the valley broadens out and merges with that of Fish River, to which the Niukluk is tributary. It receives many tributaries, of which the Koksuktapaga, joining it from the south, is the largest. In Niukluk River itself, gold was found at its head, though most abundant below the mouth of American Creek. Just below the mouth of Ophir Creek, a little gold has been rocked out on the bars. The broad gravel flood plain in this part of the basin is said to be auriferous. Below the mouth of Ophir Creek the river has cut a small rock canyon 50 feet (15 m) below an old valley floor, leaving broad benches on either side. These benches are sheeted over by a few feet of gravel.