Ugashik River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ugashik River |
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Baidarka kayak near APA cannery, Ugashik River, 1900
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 Location of the mouth of Ugashik River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Lake and Peninsula |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ugashik Lakes 21 ft (6.4 m) 57°33′49″N 156°59′49″W / 57.56361°N 156.99694°W |
| River mouth | Ugashik Bay 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Ugashik, Alaska Peninsula 0 ft (0 m) 57°29′44″N 157°36′07″W / 57.49556°N 157.60194°W |
| Length | 43 mi (69 km) |
The Ugashik River is a river in Alaska, United States. It is about 43 miles (69 km) long. The river starts near Lower Ugashik Lake. It then flows into Ugashik Bay, which is a part of Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay is connected to the Bering Sea.
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About the Ugashik River
The Ugashik River is an important waterway on the Alaska Peninsula. It is known for its rich wildlife, especially its salmon.
What's in a Name?
The name "Ugashik" has an interesting history. Older spellings like "Oogashik" or "Ougashick" were used. These names might describe the river's source. They could refer to the two lakes where the river begins. The names might also describe the river's muddy water.
Other Rivers Joining In
The Ugashik River has smaller rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries. There are two main tributaries and one smaller one.
- The King Salmon River joins the Ugashik River.
- The Dog Salmon River also flows into it.
Both of these rivers meet the Ugashik River near its mouth at Ugashik Bay. A smaller stream called Dago Creek joins the Ugashik River about 4 miles (6 km) from Smoky Point. This is where Ugashik Bay meets Bristol Bay.
You can travel by boat on the Ugashik River. It is navigable up to a small lagoon. This lagoon is just outside the point where the river flows from Lower Ugashik Lake.
Counting Salmon
Between the lake and the lagoon, there is a small area of fast-moving water called rapids. Here, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has a special setup. It's called a weir. A weir is a fence-like structure built across the river. It helps count the number of salmon swimming upstream. This counting station is staffed during certain times of the year.
Salmon and Fishing
The Ugashik River is famous for its salmon. Many types of salmon swim in the river at different times of the year. During the summer, the river sees a huge number of sockeye salmon. This is part of the largest sockeye salmon migration in the world. It makes the Ugashik River a very important place for fishing.
