Talkeetna River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Talkeetna River |
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Talkeetna River in Southcentral Alaska
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 Location of the mouth of the Talkeetna River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Matanuska-Susitna |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 4,250 ft (1,300 m) 62°10′54″N 148°29′7″W / 62.18167°N 148.48528°WTalkeetna Glacier |
| River mouth | 299 ft (91 m) 62°19′31″N 150°7′13″W / 62.32528°N 150.12028°WSusitna River near Talkeetna, Alaska |
| Length | 85 mi (137 km) |
The Talkeetna River is a beautiful river in Alaska, a large state in the United States. Its name in the Ahtna language, spoken by some Native Alaskans, is Taa’i Na’. The river is about 85 miles (137 kilometers) long.
What's in a Name?
The Talkeetna River has a long history with the people who live near it. The Dena'ina people, another group of Native Alaskans, had a special name for it.
In 1898, explorers G. H. Eldridge and Robert Muldrow from the United States Geological Survey (a science agency) reported that the Dena'ina name meant "river of plenty." This suggests the river was rich in resources. Another Dena'ina name for the river is K'dalkitnu, which means "food is stored river." This also points to the river being a good place for finding food.
The river has also been known by a few other names over time:
- Talkeet River
- Talkeetno River
- Talkutna River
The River's Journey
The Talkeetna River starts high up in the Talkeetna Mountains. It begins at the Talkeetna Glacier, which is a huge, slow-moving river of ice. The starting point is about 4,250 feet (1,295 meters) above sea level.
From there, the river flows first to the northwest and then turns southwest. It travels through the landscape until it reaches the Susitna River. The Susitna River is a much larger river in Alaska. The Talkeetna River joins the Susitna River near the town of Talkeetna, Alaska. Finally, the Susitna River flows into Cook Inlet, which is part of the Pacific Ocean.
