Anaktuvuk River
Encyclopedia
The Anaktuvuk River is a river
in Alaska
's North Slope. One hundred and thirty-five miles (217 km) long, it flows west from glaciers in the Endicott Mountains
changing direction just north of Anaktuvuk Pass to flow north to the Arctic Coastal Plain where it joins the Colville River
. Its headwaters are formed by runoff from various glaciers in the Gates of the Arctic Wilderness
on the slopes of Fan Mountain, Alapah Mountain and Limestack Mountain, the last of which lies on the watershed divide between the Arctic Coastal Plain and the Koyukuk River
, and feeds the Anaktuvuk River via Graylime Creek. Its first major tributary is the John River which joins it at 68°12′14"N 151°36′50"W. The Nanushuk River joins it at 69°18′11"N 150°59′58"W.
"The first geologic transect of the Arctic Slope was conducted during the summer of 1901 by USGS geologist F.C. Schrader and topographer W.J. Peters, who descended the Anaktuvuk River in canoes to its junction with the Colville River."
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
's North Slope. One hundred and thirty-five miles (217 km) long, it flows west from glaciers in the Endicott Mountains
Endicott Mountains
The Endicott Mountains are a range of mountains, part of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. They are located in the middle of the Brooks range and run some east-west. To the east are the Philip Smith Mountains and to the west are the Schwatka Mountains...
changing direction just north of Anaktuvuk Pass to flow north to the Arctic Coastal Plain where it joins the Colville River
Colville River (Alaska)
The Colville River is a major river of the Arctic Ocean coast of Alaska in the United States, approximately 350 mi long. One of the northernmost major rivers in the North America, it drains a remote area of tundra on the north side of the Brooks Range entirely above the Arctic Circle...
. Its headwaters are formed by runoff from various glaciers in the Gates of the Arctic Wilderness
Gates of the Arctic Wilderness
Gates of the Arctic Wilderness is a wilderness area in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located in the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, it is in area, the third-largest designated wilderness area in the United States .-History and Introduction:When the wilderness activist, Bob...
on the slopes of Fan Mountain, Alapah Mountain and Limestack Mountain, the last of which lies on the watershed divide between the Arctic Coastal Plain and the Koyukuk River
Koyukuk River
The Koyukuk River is a principal tributary of the Yukon River, approximately 500 mi long, in northern Alaska in the United States.It drains an area north of the Yukon on the southern side of the Brooks Range...
, and feeds the Anaktuvuk River via Graylime Creek. Its first major tributary is the John River which joins it at 68°12′14"N 151°36′50"W. The Nanushuk River joins it at 69°18′11"N 150°59′58"W.
"The first geologic transect of the Arctic Slope was conducted during the summer of 1901 by USGS geologist F.C. Schrader and topographer W.J. Peters, who descended the Anaktuvuk River in canoes to its junction with the Colville River."