Tanana Valley facts for kids
The Tanana Valley is a large, flat area in the middle of Alaska, in the United States. It sits on the northern side of the big Alaska Range mountains. Here, the Tanana River flows out from the mountains into the valley. For a very long time, the Tanana Athabaskans, who are part of the Alaskan Athabaskans people, have lived in this valley.
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Climate in the Tanana Valley
The weather in the Tanana Valley can be very extreme throughout the year. In winter, it gets super cold! The air can sometimes get trapped in layers, causing thick fogs to form. This happens because of something called a "temperature inversion."
In the summer, the flat areas around the valley often become like swamps or bogs. Much of the ground here has permafrost, which means it's frozen all year round. You might also see interesting hills called pingos, which are formed by ice pushing up the ground.
Communities in the Valley
The Tanana Valley is the most populated area in Alaska that is north of the Alaska Range. The biggest city in the valley is Fairbanks. Many other towns and communities also call the Tanana Valley home.
Here are some of the communities you can find:
- College
- Chena Hot Springs
- Eielson AFB
- Ester
- Fort Wainwright
- Fox
- Manley Hot Springs
- Nenana
- North Pole
- Tok
- Two Rivers
- Pleasant Valley
- Salcha
Ancient History and Archaeology
The Tanana Valley is a very important place for understanding early human history in Alaska. Scientists have found some of the oldest signs of people living here. These discoveries help us learn about the first people who explored and settled in this part of the world.
Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, have found tools and other items from ancient times. These findings suggest that people were living in the Tanana Valley as far back as 12,060 to 11,660 years ago! These ancient people are believed to be the ancestors of today's Native Alaskans.
Even more recent discoveries suggest that some sites in the Tanana Valley might be even older. Some evidence points to human presence from 13,000 to 14,000 years ago. This makes the Tanana Valley a key place for studying the very first humans in North America.
Important Archaeological Sites
Some of the most important and oldest archaeological sites in Alaska are found along the Tanana River. These include:
- The Broken Mammoth site
- The Swan Point Archaeological Site
- The Mead Archaeological Site
These sites have given scientists amazing clues about how ancient people lived and adapted to the Alaskan environment thousands of years ago.
