Chena River
Encyclopedia
The Chena River is a 100-mile-long (160 km) river in the Interior
region of the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It flows generally west from the White Mountains
to the Tanana River
near the city of Fairbanks
, which is built on both sides of the river. The 2300 mile-long Yukon River
flows from both the Tanana and Chena Rivers.
The river is fed by five tributaries: the North Fork, South Fork, West Fork, Middle (East) Fork and the Little Chena River. All empty into the Middle Fork, which is the main section of the river. The Chena River is surrounded by the Chena River State Recreation Area
in the upper half of the river basin. The Chena River is used for recreational fishing and boating. During the winter months, it is also traveled by snowmachines and mushers (sled dogs).
The Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project dam, which includes a station for counting fish populations, is located about 45 miles up the Chena River from the mouth of the Tanana River. The river is home to several species of fish and is a spawning area for king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The dam was built in response to the 1967 Fairbanks flood which inundated much of the city. When closed, excess water is kept back upriver from Fairbanks and North Pole and, given enough water, spills into the Tanana River near North Pole about eight miles away from the Chena.
The upper Chena is home to the Chena River State Recreation Area
, noted for various forms of outdoor recreation.
Alaska Interior
The Alaska Interior covers most of the U.S. state's territory. It is largely wilderness. Mountains include Mount McKinley in the Alaska Range, the Wrangell Mountains, and the Ray Mountains....
region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. It flows generally west from the White Mountains
White Mountains (Alaska)
The White Mountains is a 115-km-long mountain range in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. It lies between Beaver Creek and Preacher Creek, and was named by prospectors for its composition of white limestone. The range reaches a maximum elevation of 968 m...
to the Tanana River
Tanana River
The Tanana River is a tributary of the Yukon River in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to linguist and anthropologist William Bright, the name is from the Koyukon tene no, tenene, literally "trail river"....
near the city of Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
, which is built on both sides of the river. The 2300 mile-long Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
flows from both the Tanana and Chena Rivers.
The river is fed by five tributaries: the North Fork, South Fork, West Fork, Middle (East) Fork and the Little Chena River. All empty into the Middle Fork, which is the main section of the river. The Chena River is surrounded by the Chena River State Recreation Area
Chena River State Recreation Area
Chena River State Recreation Area is a 254,080-acre state park in the U.S. state of Alaska, located east of Fairbanks. The recreation area is centered around the Chena River. Facilities include campgrounds, hiking, ATV, snowmachine and sled dog trails, a shooting range, fishing ponds, and several...
in the upper half of the river basin. The Chena River is used for recreational fishing and boating. During the winter months, it is also traveled by snowmachines and mushers (sled dogs).
The Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project dam, which includes a station for counting fish populations, is located about 45 miles up the Chena River from the mouth of the Tanana River. The river is home to several species of fish and is a spawning area for king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The dam was built in response to the 1967 Fairbanks flood which inundated much of the city. When closed, excess water is kept back upriver from Fairbanks and North Pole and, given enough water, spills into the Tanana River near North Pole about eight miles away from the Chena.
The upper Chena is home to the Chena River State Recreation Area
Chena River State Recreation Area
Chena River State Recreation Area is a 254,080-acre state park in the U.S. state of Alaska, located east of Fairbanks. The recreation area is centered around the Chena River. Facilities include campgrounds, hiking, ATV, snowmachine and sled dog trails, a shooting range, fishing ponds, and several...
, noted for various forms of outdoor recreation.