Salcha River facts for kids
The Salcha River (Lower Tanana: Sołchaget) is a 125-mile (201 km) long river in Alaska, United States. It's a "tributary," which means it flows into a bigger river, the Tanana River. The Salcha River starts in the eastern part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It then flows generally west-southwest until it joins the Tanana River near a place called Aurora Lodge. This spot is about 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Fairbanks.
The Salcha River collects water from a huge area of 2,170 square miles (5,620 km2). This makes it the second-largest river that flows into the Tanana River. An important pipeline, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, goes underneath the Salcha River. This crossing is about 12 miles (19 km) before the Salcha River meets the Tanana River.
Quick facts for kids Salcha River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Salcha River in Alaska
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| Native name | Sołchaget |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Fairbanks North Star |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Tanana Hills slightly south of Steese National Conservation Area, northeastern Fairbanks North Star Borough 4,054 ft (1,236 m) 65°04′23″N 143°54′58″W / 65.07306°N 143.91611°W |
| River mouth | Tanana River 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Fairbanks 640 ft (200 m) 64°28′00″N 146°58′44″W / 64.46667°N 146.97889°W |
| Length | 125 mi (201 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,170 sq mi (5,600 km2) |
Fun Activities on the Salcha River
The Salcha River is a great place for outdoor fun! You can reach it by boat or by walking from the Richardson Highway. This highway crosses the lower part of the river, close to where it meets the Tanana River.
Fishing for Salmon and More
The Salcha River is very popular for sports fishing. People love to catch different kinds of fish here:
- King Salmon: These are also called Chinook salmon. They are mostly caught near the mouth of the river.
- Arctic Grayling: You can find these fish further upstream, away from the mouth.
- Chum Salmon: These fish come into the river in the summer.
- Coho Salmon: These fish arrive in the fall.
- Northern Pike: Smaller numbers of these fish are also found here.
Many people enjoy "catch and release" fishing for Chinook salmon. These salmon usually weigh between 20 to 25 pounds (9 to 11 kg). This means they catch the fish and then carefully let them go back into the water.
Salcha River State Recreation Site
Right next to the Salcha River, at milepost 323.3 on the Richardson Highway, is the Salcha River State Recreation Site. This park is managed by the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. It's about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Fairbanks.
The park covers 61-acre (25 ha) and has many things for visitors:
- Six campsites where you can set up a tent or park an RV.
- Access to water and toilets.
- Picnic sites for outdoor meals.
- A boat launch, which is a special ramp for putting boats into the river.
- A public-use cabin, which you might be able to rent.
In the winter, the area around the park is great for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Just know that the park can get very busy on holiday weekends!
