Serpentine River (Alaska) facts for kids
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The Serpentine River is a river located in Alaska, a U.S. state in America. It flows into a place called Shishmaref Inlet from the southeast. A prospector named Charles McLennan explored and named the river in the year 1900.
Where the River Flows
The Serpentine River starts near a place called Midnight Mountain. It flows for about 35 miles (56 kilometers) before reaching Shishmaref Inlet. The river gets its name "Serpentine" because it has many twists and turns, just like a snake!
The land around the Serpentine River is made of different kinds of rocks. These include dark, layered rocks called mica-schists and a type of rock called limestone. Near some hot springs, there are also large areas of granite rock. This granite often forms tall, pointy shapes because of how it weathers over time.
Rivers Joining In
Several smaller streams flow into the Serpentine River. These are called tributaries.
- Schlitz Creek
- Reindeer Creek
- Bryan Creek (which starts east of Kougarok Mountain)
- Quartz Creek (which is the upper part of the South Fork of Serpentine River)
History of the River
Charles McLennan was the first European person to explore the Serpentine River. He traveled with a dog team and local Eskimo helpers in May 1900. He was likely the first to find the hot springs along Spring Creek, which is a small stream that flows into the Serpentine River.
McLennan claimed land along Spring Creek and even made a map of the area. By September 1901, a small group of people had settled near the hot springs. Gold was also found in some of the streams that feed into the middle part of the Serpentine River. Many miners were planning to stay for the winter in the area, mostly around the hot springs.
