Editing Yukon River

{{Short description|Major watercourse in northwestern North America}}
{{Infobox river
| name                = Yukon River
| native_name         = {{native name list
  |tag1=gwi |name1=Ųųg Han
  |tag2=gwi |name2=Yuk Han
  |tag3=esu |name3=Kuigpak
  |tag4=ik    |name4=Kuukpak
  |tag5=ing  |name5=Yeqin
  |tag6=haa |name6=Tth'echù'
  |tag7=haa |name7=Chuu k'onn
  |tag8=tce  |name8=Chu Nìikwän }}
| name_other          = 
| name_etymology      = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image               = File:Canoeing the Yukon River.jpg
| image_size          = 
| image_caption       = Canoeing the Yukon River
| map                 = Yukon watershed.png
| map_size            = 
| map_caption         = Location of the Yukon River and watershed
| pushpin_map         = 
| pushpin_map_size    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| mapframe            = yes
| mapframe-zoom       = 3
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1   = Countries
| subdivision_name1   = {{hlist| [[United States]]|[[Canada]]}}
| subdivision_type2   = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name2   = [[Alaska]]
| subdivision_type3   = [[Provinces and territories of Canada#Provinces|Province]]/[[Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories|Territory]]
| subdivision_name3   = {{hlist| [[British Columbia]]|[[Yukon]]}}
| subdivision_type4   = 
| subdivision_name4   = 
| subdivision_type5   = 
| subdivision_name5   = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length              = {{cvt|3,190|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min           = 
| width_avg           = {{convert|0.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} [[Rampart, Alaska|Rampart]] to [[Tanana, Alaska|Tanana]];<ref name="Yukon River Panel">{{Cite web|url=http://rapidsresearch.com/html/yukon_river_panel.html|title=Rapids Information for Yukon River Panel, Canada|website=rapidsresearch.com}}</ref> 
{{convert|820-1,000|m|abbr=on}} ([[Pilot Station]])<ref name="Yukon (Pilot) River">{{Cite web|url=https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=sonar.site_info&site=12|title=Yukon (Pilot) Site and River, Alaska Fisheries Sonar, Alaska Department of Fish and Game|website=www.adfg.alaska.gov}}</ref>
| width_max           = 
| depth_min           = 
| depth_avg           = {{convert|9.1|-|12.1|m|abbr=on}} ([[Rampart, Alaska|Rampart]] to [[Tanana, Alaska|Tanana]]);<ref name="Yukon River Panel"/>
| depth_max           = {{convert|40|m|abbr=on}} ([[Rampart, Alaska|Rampart]]);<ref name="Yukon River Panel"/>
{{convert|24.4|m|abbr=on}} ([[Pilot Station]])<ref name="Yukon (Pilot) River"/>
| discharge2_location = [[Pilot Station]]
| discharge2_min={{cvt|35,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}(Year: 1984)<ref name="Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15565447">{{cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wys_rpt?dv_ts_ids=1155&wys_water_yr=2023&site_no=15565447&agency_cd=USGS&adr_water_years=2006%2C2008%2C2009%2C2010%2C2011%2C2012%2C2013%2C2014%2C2015%2C2016%2C2017%2C2018%2C2019%2C2020%2C2021%2C2022%2C2023&referred_module=|title=Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15565447}}</ref>
| discharge2_avg=(Period: 1976–2024){{cvt|236,300|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15565447"/><ref name="online.ucpress.edu">{{cite journal|url=https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/9/1/00098/117201/Changing-freshwater-contributions-to-the-ArcticA|doi=10.1525/elementa.2020.00098 |title=Changing freshwater contributions to the Arctic |year=2021 |last1=Stadnyk |first1=Tricia A. |last2=Tefs |first2=A. |last3=Broesky |first3=M. |last4=Déry |first4=S. J. |last5=Myers |first5=P. G. |last6=Ridenour |first6=N. A. |last7=Koenig |first7=K. |last8=Vonderbank |first8=L. |last9=Gustafsson |first9=D. |journal=Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene |volume=9 |issue=1 |page=00098 |s2cid=236682638 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2021EleSA...9...98S }}</ref>
| discharge2_max={{cvt|1,240,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}(Year: 2005)<ref name="Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15565447"/>
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1             = [[Juneau Icefield|Llewellyn Glacier]] at [[Atlin Lake]]
| source1_location    = [[Atlin District]], [[British Columbia]], Canada
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|59|10|N|133|50|W|display= inline}}
| source1_elevation   = {{cvt|669|m}}<ref>{{cite web |title= Atlin Lake |url= https://www.peakbagger.com/KeyCol.aspx?pid=779 |publisher=Peakbagger.com |access-date= 11 October 2020}}</ref>
| mouth               = [[Bering Sea]]
| mouth_location      = [[Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska|Kusilvak]], [[Alaska]], U.S.
| mouth_coordinates   = {{coord|62|35|55|N|164|48|00|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation     = {{cvt|0|m}}
| progression         = [[Bering Sea]]
| river_system        = [[Yukon River]]
| basin_size          = 
{{cvt|854,700|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada">{{cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri994204/pdf/wri994204.pdf|title=Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada|last1=Timothy|first1=P. Brabets|year=2000}}</ref>
| tributaries_left    = [[White River (Yukon)|White]], [[Fortymile River|Fortymile]],  [[Birch Creek (Yukon River tributary)|Birch Creek]], [[Tanana River|Tanana]], [[Nowitna River|Nowitna]], [[Innoko River|Innoko]]
| tributaries_right   = Tagish River, [[Atlin River|Atlin]], [[Teslin River|Teslin]], [[Big Salmon River (Yukon)|Big Salmon]], [[Pelly River|Pelly]], [[Stewart River (Yukon)|Stewart]], [[Klondike River|Klondike]], [[Porcupine River|Porcupine]], [[Christian River|Christian]], [[Chandalar River|Chandalar]], [[Melozitna River|Melozitna]], [[Koyukuk River|Koyukuk]], [[Anvik River|Anvik]], [[Atchuelinguk River|Atchuelinguk]], [[Andreafsky River|Andreafsky]]
| custom_label        = 
| custom_data         = 
| discharge1_location = [[Yukon Delta]]
| discharge1_avg={{cvt|7,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="DISTRIBUTION AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF JUVENILE SALMON AND OTHER FISHES IN THE YUKON DELTA">{{cite book|url=https://espis.boem.gov/final%20reports/86.pdf|title=DISTRIBUTION AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF JUVENILE SALMON AND OTHER FISHES IN THE YUKON DELTA|last1=Douglas|first1=J. Martin|last2=Clifford|first2=J. Whitmus|last3=Lon|first3=E. Hachmeister|year=1987}}</ref><ref name="Yukon">{{Cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=145&catid=315&Itemid=179|title=Rivers Network - Yukon|first=Eric|last=Tilman|website=Rivers Network}}</ref>
| discharge3_location=[[Stevens Village, Alaska|Stevens Village]]
| discharge3_min={{cvt|14,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} (Year: 1997)<ref name="Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15453500">{{cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wys_rpt?dv_ts_ids=326398&wys_water_yr=2023&site_no=15453500&agency_cd=USGS&adr_water_years=2006%2C2007%2C2008%2C2009%2C2010%2C2011%2C2012%2C2013%2C2014%2C2015%2C2016%2C2017%2C2018%2C2019%2C2020%2C2021%2C2022%2C2023&referred_module=|title=Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15453500}}</ref>
| discharge3_avg=(Period: 1977–2024){{cvt|123,300|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="USGS 15453500 YUKON RIVER NR STEVENS VILLAGE AK">{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/annual?referred_module=sw&amp;site_no=15453500&amp;por_15453500_326398=623988,00060,326398,1977,2024&amp;year_type=W&amp;format=html_table&amp;date_format=YYYY-MM-DD&amp;rdb_compression=file&amp;submitted_form=parameter_selection_list|title=USGS Surface Water data for USA: USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics|website=waterdata.usgs.gov}}</ref><ref name="Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15453500"/>
| discharge3_max={{cvt|827,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} (Year: 1992)<ref name="Water-Year Summary for Site USGS 15453500"/>
| discharge4_location = [[Dawson City|Dawson]]
| discharge4_avg=(Period: 1944–1980){{cvt|78,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transport of Water, Carbon, and Sediment Through the Yukon River Basin">{{cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3005|title=Transport of Water, Carbon, and Sediment Through the Yukon River Basin|year=2008}}</ref><ref name="Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada"/>
| discharge4_max={{cvt|527,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} (Year: 1964)<ref name="Peak Streamflow for the Nation
CAX01 15305700 YUKON R AT DAWSON YT">{{Cite web|url=https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/peak?site_no=15305700&agency_cd=CAX01&format=html|title=USGS Surface Water for USA: Peak Streamflow|website=nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov}}</ref>
| discharge5_location=[[Whitehorse]]
| discharge5_avg=(Period: 1944–2010){{cvt|8,600|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transport of Water, Carbon, and Sediment Through the Yukon River Basin"/><ref name="Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada"/><ref name="Marsh Lake Fall-Winter Storage Concept Hydrology Baseline Report">{{cite book|url=https://yukonenergy.ca/media/site_documents/Southern_Lakes/Baseline_Studies/Baseline%20Report%20HYDROLOGY%20Southern%20Lakes%20Enhanced%20Storage%20Concept.pdf|title=Marsh Lake Fall-Winter Storage Concept Hydrology Baseline Report|year=2011}}</ref>
| extra               = <ref>{{cite web|author1= Brabets, Timothy P |author2= Wang, Bronwen |author3= Meade, Robert H. | title= Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada | url= http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri994204/pdf/wri994204.pdf | publisher= [[United States Geological Survey]] | year= 2000 | access-date= 5 March 2010}}</ref><ref name=britannica>{{Britannica|654842}}</ref>
}}

The '''Yukon River''' is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. From its source in [[British Columbia]], it flows through Canada's territory of [[Yukon]] (itself named after the river). The lower half of the river continues westward through the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alaska]]. The river is {{convert|3190|km}}<ref name=britannica /><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.yukoninfo.com/yukonriver/ |title= Yukoninfo.com |publisher= Yukoninfo.com |access-date= 2013-08-18 |archive-date= 2013-10-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131024100547/http://www.yukoninfo.com/yukonriver/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> long and empties into the [[Bering Sea]] at the [[Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta]]. The average flow is {{cvt|6400-7000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}.<ref name="DISTRIBUTION AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF JUVENILE SALMON AND OTHER FISHES IN THE YUKON DELTA"/><ref name="Yukon"/><ref name="Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada"/> The total drainage area is {{cvt|854,700|km2|mi2|abbr=on}},<ref name="Environmental and Hydrologic Overview of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska and Canada"/> of which {{cvt|323,800|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} lies in Canada.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Walvoord |first1=Michelle A. |last2=Striegl |first2=Robert G. |date=2007-06-28 |title=Increased groundwater to stream discharge from permafrost thawing in the Yukon River basin: Potential impacts on lateral export of carbon and nitrogen |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |language=en |volume=34 |issue=12 |pages=L12402 |doi=10.1029/2007GL030216 |s2cid=128894194 |issn=0094-8276|doi-access=free |bibcode=2007GeoRL..3412402W }}</ref> The total area is more than 25% larger than [[Texas]] or [[Alberta]].

The longest river in Alaska and Yukon, it was one of the principal means of transportation during the 1896–1903 [[Klondike Gold Rush]]. A portion of the river in Yukon—"The Thirty Mile" section, from [[Lake Laberge]] to the [[Teslin River]]—is a [[Canadian Heritage Rivers System|national heritage river]] and a unit of [[Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park]].<ref>[http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Yukon/Yukon_e.htm The Thirty Mile (Yukon River) National Heritage River] {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110106231454/http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Yukon/Yukon_e.htm |date=January 6, 2011 }}, National Heritage Rivers System</ref><ref>[http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike/natcul/natcul-klondike.aspx Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park] {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121009053317/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike/natcul/natcul-klondike.aspx |date= October 9, 2012 }}, Parks Canada</ref> Paddle-wheel [[riverboat]]s continued to ply the river until the 1950s, when the [[Klondike Highway]] was completed. After the purchase of [[Alaska]] by the United States in 1867, the [[Alaska Commercial Company]] acquired the assets of the [[Russian-American Company]] and constructed several posts at various locations on the Yukon River.

The Yukon River has a recent history of [[pollution]] from military installations, dumps, wastewater, and other sources.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.eosnap.com/tag/yukon-river/|title= Earth Snapshot • Yukon River|website= Eosnap.com|language= en-US|access-date= 2018-02-09|archive-date= 2020-10-27|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201027183520/http://www.eosnap.com/tag/yukon-river/|url-status= dead}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2021}}{{citation needed|date= June 2012}} However, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] does not list the Yukon River among its impaired watersheds, and water-quality data from the [[U.S. Geological Survey]] shows relatively good levels of turbidity, metals, and dissolved oxygen.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/qwdata/?site_no=15565447&agency_cd=USGS |title= USGS Water Quality Samples – 1 sites found |publisher= Nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov |access-date= 2013-08-18}}</ref>  The Yukon and [[Mackenzie River|Mackenzie]] rivers have much higher suspended sediment concentrations than the great Siberian Arctic rivers.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://arcticgreatrivers.org/|title= Arctic Great Rivers Observatory|website= Arctic Great Rivers|language= en-US|access-date= 2018-04-10}}</ref>

The [[Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council]], a cooperative effort of 70 [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] and [[Indian tribe|tribes]] in Alaska and Canada, has the goal of making the river and its tributaries safe to drink from again by supplementing and scrutinizing government data.

==Name==
The name ''Yukon'', or ''ųųg han'', is a [[Contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of the words in the [[Gwich'in language|Gwich'in]] phrase ''chųų gąįį han'', which means ''white water river'' and refers to "the pale colour" of [[Rock flour|glacial runoff]] in the Yukon River.<ref name=ObsoletePhrase>"Dear Sir, I have great pleasure in informing you that I have at length after much trouble and difficulties, succeed[ed] in reaching the 'Youcon', or white water River, so named by the ([[Gwich'in]]) natives from the pale colour of its water. ..., I have the honour to Remain Your ob<sup>t</sup> Serv<sup>t</sup>, [[John Bell (explorer)|John Bell]]" [[Hudson's Bay Company]] Correspondence to [[George Simpson (Pre-Confederation Canada politician and trader)|George Simpson]] from John Bell (August 1, 1845), [https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/ HBC Archives], D.5/14, fos. 212-215d, also quoted in, {{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pPLYUsb3gAQC&pg=PA21 |title=Land of the Midnight Sun: A History of the Yukon| page=21|author1=Coates, Kenneth S. |author2=William R. Morrison |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Hurtig Publishers|year=1988|isbn=0-88830-331-9|access-date=2017-10-16}}</ref><ref name=NotGreat>In Gwich'in, adjectives, such as ''choo'' [big] and ''gąįį'' [white], follow the nouns that they modify. Thus, ''white water'' is ''chųų gąįį'' [water white].  ''White water river'' is ''chųų gąįį han'' [water white river].  {{cite book|url= http://library.alaska.gov/hist/hist_docs/docs/anlm/24000656.pdf |title=Dinjii Zhuh Ginjik Nagwan Tr'iłtsąįį: Gwich'in Junior Dictionary| pages= ii (ą, į, ų are nasalized a, i, u), xii (adjectives follow nouns), 19 (''nitsii'' or ''choo'' [big]), 88 (''ocean'' = ''chųų choo'' [water big]), 105 (''han'' [river]), 142 (''chųų'' [water]), 144 (''gąįį'' [white])|author=Peter, Katherine|publisher=Univ. of Alaska|year=1979|access-date=2017-10-16}}</ref>  The contraction is ''Ųųg Han'', if the /ųų/ remains [[Nasal vowel|nasalized]], or ''Yuk Han'', if there is no vowel nasalization.<ref name=FiveLetters>Gwich'in vowels may or may not be nasalized. A hook under a vowel, as in "ų," indicates that the vowel is nasalized.  {{cite book|title=Dinjii Zhuh Ginjik Nagwan Tr'iłtsąįį|author=Peter|year=1979}}, at page ii (footnote). English, of course, has no nasalized vowels.</ref>  In the 1840s, the various [[Dene]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|nations]] had differing opinions as to the literal meaning of ''Yukon''. In 1843, the [[Holikachuk]]s had told the [[Russian-American Company]] that their name for the river was ''Yukkhana'' and that this name meant ''big river''.<ref name=RussiansNamed>"[The Yukon] in the language of the Kang-ulit ([[Central Alaskan Yup'ik people|Yup'ik]]) people is ''Kvikhpak''; in the dialect of the downriver Inkilik ([[Holikachuk]]), ''Yukkhana''; of those upriver ([[Koyukon]]), ''Yuna''. All these terms mean the same thing in translation–'Big River.'  I have kept the local names as a clearer indication of the different tribes along the river." [[Lavrenty Zagoskin|Lt. Zagoskin]]'s Note 63 (1848), translated in, {{cite book|title=Lieutenant Zagoskin's Travels in Russian America, 1842-1844: The First Ethnographic and Geographic Investigations in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Valleys of Alaska|editor=Zagoskin, Lavrenty A. |editor2=Henry N. Michael |publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=1967}}, at page 295. Zagoskin did not come into contact with the [[Gwich'in|Gwich'in Indians]] and had no access to the information that ''Yukon'' means ''white water river'' in [[Gwich'in language|Gwich'in]] – the language from which the word came.</ref>  However, ''Yukkhana'' does not literally correspond to a [[Holikachuk language|Holikachuk]] phrase that means ''big river''.<ref name=NotDeg>In Holikachuk, ''big river'' or ''big water'' would be ''xinmiksekh'', ''xinchux'', ''toomiksekh'', or ''toochux''. {{cite book|url=https://uafanlc.alaska.edu/Online/HO975K1978c/HO975K1978c.pdf|title=Holikachuk Noun Dictionary| page=19 (''xin'' [river], ''too'' [water])|author=Kari, James |display-authors=et al.|publisher=Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks|year=1978|access-date=2017-10-16}}; {{cite book|title=Lieutenant Zagoskin's Travels|author=Zagoskin |author2=Michael|year=1967}}, at page 309 (Inkilik proper [Holikachuk] ''tu'' [water], ''miksekh'' [large]); {{cite book|url= http://faculty.washington.edu/sharon/Vowel_quality_and_duration_in_Deg_Xinag.pdf |title=Vowel quality and duration in Deg Xinag|page=29 (note 33: Holikachuk ''chux'' [big])|author=Hargus, Sharon|publisher=Univ. of Washington|year=2008|access-date=2017-10-16}} Adjectives followed the nouns that they modified in Holikachuk.</ref><ref name=NotActuallyConfirmed>Thirty-nine pages of cited "Sources," representing over a century of research, did not verify [[Lavrenty Zagoskin|Zagoskin]]'s report that ''Yukon'' means ''big river''.  {{cite book|title=Dictionary of Alaska Place Names|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_0y48AQAAMAAJ|author=Orth|year=1967}}, at pp. 6-44 ("Sources of Names"), 1069 ("The Eskimo ... descriptively called it 'Kuikpak' meaning 'big river.'  The Indian name 'Yukon' probably means the same thing."). Orth does not say "probably" when discussing ''Kuikpak''{{'s}} meaning. Orth's use of "probably" is limited to the discussion of ''Yukon''{{'s}} meaning, which indicates that Zagoskin's report that ''Yukon'' means ''big river'' was never verified. In addition, Orth's "Sources" do not even include the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] correspondence, which states that ''Yukon'' means ''white water river'' in [[Gwich'in language|Gwich'in]]. Nor do Orth's "Sources" include aboriginal dictionaries.</ref>  Then, two years later, the [[Gwich'in]]s told the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] that their name for the river was ''Yukon'' and that the name meant ''white water river''.<ref name="ObsoletePhrase"/>  ''White water river'' in fact corresponds to Gwich'in words that can be shortened to form ''Yukon''.<ref name="NotGreat"/>  Because the Holikachuks had been trading regularly with both the Gwich’ins and the [[Central Alaskan Yup'ik people|Yup'iks]],<ref name=Borrowed>[[Lavrenty Zagoskin|Lt. Zagoskin]] reported that: "The ... Inkilit [Holikachuk] ... live along the routes of communication between the Yukon and the coast and are occupied almost exclusively with buying up furs from the natives living along the Yunnaka ([[Koyukuk River]], a Yukon tributary)."  Zagoskin also reported that: "The Inkalik [Holikachuk] ..., who are chiefly occupied in trading both with their fellow tribesmen and with the neighboring tribes of Kang-ulit (Yup'ik), have adopted the way of life of the latter ..."  {{cite book|title=Lieutenant Zagoskin's Travels|author=Zagoskin |author2=Michael|year=1967}}, at pp. 196-97, 244. Because they had adopted the Yup’ik (Eskimo) way of life, and because they were the ones trading upriver, the Holikachuk would have been "the Esquimaux" referred to in [[John Bell (explorer)|John Bell]]'s 1845 report: "The Esquimaux to the westwards likewise ascends the 'Youcon' and carry on a trade with the natives, as well as with the Musquash [Gwich'in] Indians ... I have seen a large camp of the latter tribe on the Rat River on my return, who, had about a doz: of beat [hammered] Iron Kettles of Russian Manufacture which they bartered from the Esquimaux."  ''See'', [[Hudson's Bay Company]] Correspondence to [[George Simpson (Pre-Confederation Canada politician and trader)|Simpson]] from Bell (1845), [https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/ HBC Archives], D.5/14, fos. 212, 213. For these reasons, the Holikachuk were in a position to conflate the meanings of the Gwich'in and Yup'ik names, and to furnish this conflated information to the Russian-American Company.</ref> the Holikachuks were in a position [[Loanword|to borrow]] the Gwich'in contraction and [[Conflation|to conflate]] its [[Definition|meaning]] with the meaning of ''Kuig-pak'' [River-big], which is the [[Central Alaskan Yup'ik language|Yup'ik]] name for the same river. For that reason, the [[documentary evidence]] suggests that the Holikachuks had borrowed the contraction ''Ųųg Han'' [White Water River] from Gwich'in, and erroneously assumed that this contraction had the same literal meaning as the corresponding Yup'ik name ''Kuig-pak'' [River-big].

The '''Lewes River''' is the former name of the upper course of the Yukon, from [[Marsh Lake]] to the confluence of the [[Pelly River]] at [[Fort Selkirk]].

==Course==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2009}}
[[File:Yukon River drainage basin.gif|thumb|upright=1.75|Map of the Yukon River watershed]]

The generally accepted source of the Yukon River is the [[Llewellyn Glacier]] at the southern end of [[Atlin Lake]] in [[British Columbia]]. Others suggest that the source is [[Lindeman Lake (Chilkoot Trail)|Lake Lindeman]] at the northern end of the [[Chilkoot Trail]]. Either way, Atlin Lake flows into [[Tagish Lake]] (via the Atlin River), as eventually does Lake Lindeman after flowing into [[Bennett Lake]]. Tagish Lake then flows into [[Marsh Lake]] (via the Tagish River). The Yukon River proper starts at the northern end of Marsh Lake, just south of [[Whitehorse, Yukon|Whitehorse]]. Some argue that the source of the Yukon River should really be [[Teslin Lake]] and the [[Teslin River]], which has a larger flow when it reaches the Yukon at Hootalinqua. The upper end of the Yukon River was originally known as the Lewes River until it was established that it actually was the Yukon. North of Whitehorse, the Yukon River widens into [[Lake Laberge]], made famous by [[Robert W. Service]]'s "[[The Cremation of Sam McGee]]". Other large lakes that are part of the Yukon River system include Kusawa Lake (into the [[Takhini River]]) and [[Kluane Lake]] (into the Kluane and then White River).

The river passes through the communities of [[Whitehorse, Yukon|Whitehorse]], [[Carmacks, Yukon|Carmacks]], (just before the [[Five Finger Rapids]]) and [[Dawson, Yukon|Dawson City]] in [[Yukon]], and crossing [[Alaska]] into [[Eagle, Alaska|Eagle]], [[Circle, Alaska|Circle]], [[Fort Yukon, Alaska|Fort Yukon]], [[Stevens Village, Alaska|Stevens Village]], [[Rampart, Alaska|Rampart]], [[Tanana, Alaska|Tanana]], [[Ruby, Alaska|Ruby]], [[Galena, Alaska|Galena]], [[Nulato, Alaska|Nulato]], [[Grayling, Alaska|Grayling]], [[Holy Cross, Alaska|Holy Cross]], [[Russian Mission, Alaska|Russian Mission]], [[Marshall, Alaska|Marshall]], [[Pilot Station, Alaska|Pilot Station]], [[St. Mary's, Alaska|St. Marys]] (which is accessible from the Yukon at Pitkas Point), and [[Mountain Village, Alaska|Mountain Village]]. After Mountain Village, the main Yukon channel frays into many channels, sprawling across the delta. There are a number of communities after the "head of passes," as the channel division is called locally: [[Nunam Iqua, Alaska|Nunum Iqua]], [[Alakanuk, Alaska|Alakanuk]], [[Emmonak, Alaska|Emmonak]], and [[Kotlik, Alaska|Kotlik]]. Of those delta communities, Emmonak is the largest with roughly 760 people in the 2000 census. Emmonak's gravel airstrip is the regional hub for flights.

==Hazards==
[[File:Carmacs-bridge across Yukon River.JPG|thumb|The bridge across the Yukon River at [[Carmacks, Yukon|Carmacks]] on the [[Klondike Highway]]]]
[[File:Patton Yukon River Bridge.jpg|right|thumb|The E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge carries the [[Dalton Highway]] over the Yukon north of Fairbanks.]]

Navigational obstacles on the Yukon River are the [[Five Finger Rapids]] and Rink Rapids downstream from Carmacks.

==Bridges==
Despite its length, there are only four vehicle-carrying bridges across the river, listed from upstream to downstream:
* The Lewes Bridge, north of [[Marsh Lake]], Yukon, on the [[Alaska Highway]];
* The [[Robert Campbell (fur trader)|Robert Campbell]] Bridge, which connects the [[Whitehorse]] suburb of [[Riverdale, Yukon|Riverdale]] to the downtown area;
* The Yukon River Bridge in [[Carmacks, Yukon]], on the [[Klondike Highway]]; and
* The [[E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge|Yukon River Bridge]], north of [[Fairbanks, Alaska]] on the [[Dalton Highway]].

A car [[ferry]] crosses the river at [[Dawson City]] in the summer; it is replaced by an [[ice bridge]] over the frozen river during the winter. Plans to build a permanent bridge were announced in March 2004, although they were subsequently put on hold because bids came in much higher than budgeted.

There are also two pedestrian-only bridges in Whitehorse, as well as a dam across the river and a [[hydroelectric]] generating station. The construction of the dam flooded the [[White Horse Rapids]], which gave the city its name, and created [[Schwatka Lake]].

Transportation is also performed along the river in summer by [[barge]], enabling heavy goods, oil, and vehicles to be transported to communities along the Yukon, Tanana, Innoko, and Koyukuk rivers. This service is performed by Ruby Marine and reaches Tanana on the Yukon River and [[Nenana, Alaska|Nenana]] on the Tanana River.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rubymarineinc.com/|title=Ruby Marine|website=Rubymarineinc.com|access-date=11 June 2022}}</ref>

==Ecology==
Some of the upper slopes of this watershed (e.g. [[Nulato Hills]]) are forested by [[Black Spruce]].<ref>Scott R. Robinson. 1988. ''Movement and Distribution of Western Arctic Caribou Herd across the Buckland Valley and Nulato Hills'', U.S. Bureau of Land Management Open file Report 23, Alaska</ref> This locale near the [[Seward Peninsula]] represents the near westernmost limit of the Black Spruce, ''Picea mariana'',<ref>C. Michael Hogan, [http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=44751 ''Black Spruce: Picea mariana'', GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg, November, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005174426/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=44751 |date=October 5, 2011 }}</ref> one of the most widespread [[conifer]]s in northern North America.

The river flows into several parklands and refuges including:
[[File:2015-08-20 Canoeing the Yukon River - Whitehorse to Carmarcks 1442.jpg|thumb|Crossing the Lake Laberge by canoe]]
* [[Innoko National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve]]
* [[Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Discharge==

Yukon at [[Pilot Station, Alaska|Pilot Station]] (121 miles upstream of mouth) minimum, average and maximum discharge:<ref name="USGS 15565447 YUKON R AT PILOT STATION AK">{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/inventory/?site_no=15565447|title=USGS 15565447 YUKON R AT PILOT STATION AK|website=waterdata.usgs.gov}}</ref><ref name="USGS Surface Water for USA: USGS Surface-Water Daily Statistics for the Nation">{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/dvstat?referred_module=sw&amp;site_no=15565447&amp;por_15565447_1155=624211,00060,1155,1975-10-01,2023-04-03&amp;format=html_table&amp;stat_cds=mean_va&amp;date_format=YYYY-MM-DD&amp;rdb_compression=file&amp;submitted_form=parameter_selection_list|title=USGS Surface Water data for USA: USGS Surface-Water Daily Statistics|website=waterdata.usgs.gov}}</ref><ref name="USGS Current Conditions for USGS 15565447 YUKON R AT PILOT STATION AK">{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/dv?cb_00060=on&format=html&site_no=15565447&legacy=&referred_module=sw&period=&begin_date=2022-10-01&end_date=2023-09-30|title=USGS Current Conditions for USGS 15565447 YUKON R AT PILOT STATION AK|website=waterdata.usgs.gov}}</ref><ref name="Annual Statistics">{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/annual?referred_module=sw&amp;site_no=15565447&amp;por_15565447_1155=624211,00060,1155,1976,2024&amp;year_type=W&amp;format=html_table&amp;date_format=YYYY-MM-DD&amp;rdb_compression=file&amp;submitted_form=parameter_selection_list|title=USGS Surface Water data for USA: USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics|website=waterdata.usgs.gov}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 ! rowspan="3" |Water year
! colspan="7" |Discharge (Period: 1975/10/01 – 2024/09/30)
|-
! colspan="2" |Min
! colspan="3" |Mean
! colspan="2" |Max
|-
!cfs
!m<sup>3</sup>/s
!cfs
 !m<sup>3</sup>/s
 !km<sup>3</sup>
 !cfs
!m<sup>3</sup>/s
|-
 |1975/76
 |65,000
|1,840
|218,300
 |6,182
 |195
 |700,000
|19,800
|-
 |1976/77
 |44,000
|1,250
|204,100
 |5,779
 |182
 |669,000
|18,900
|-
 |1977/78
 |42,000
|1,190
|185,300
 |5,247
 |166
 |465,000
|13,200
|-
 |1978/79
 |40,000
|1,130
|224,200
 |6,349
 |200
 |587,000
|16,600
|-
 |1979/80
 |50,000
|1,420
|236,900
 |6,708
 |212
 |660,000
|18,700
|-
 |1980/81
 |40,000
|1,130
|229,600
 |6,502
 |205
 |563,000
|15,900
|-
 |1981/82
 |38,000
|1,080
|240,800
 |6,819
 |215
 |866,000
|24,500
|-
 |1982/83
 |45,000
|1,270
|218,900
 |6,199
 |196
 |554,000
|15,700
|-
 |1983/84
 |35,000
|990
|231,900
 |6,567
 |207
 |642,000
|18,200
|-
 |1984/85
 |40,000
|1,130
|239,200
 |6,773
 |214
 |1,100,000
|31,150
|-
 |1985/86
 |50,000
|1,420
|231,400
 |6,553
 |207
 |585,000
|16,600
|-
 |1986/87
 |47,000
|1,330
|223,800
 |6,337
 |200
 |649,000
|18,400
|-
 |1987/88
 |50,000
|1,420
|218,700
 |6,193
 |195
 |680,000
|19,300
|-
 |1988/89
 |55,000
|1,560
|225,500
 |6,385
 |202
 |800,000
|22,650
|-
 |1989/90
 |47,000
|1,330
|235,400
 |6,666
 |210
 |900,000
|25,500
|-
 |1990/91
 |50,000
|1,420
|249,800
 |7,074
 |223
 |1,070,000
|30,300
|-
 |1991/92
 |46,000
|1,300
|239,500
 |6,782
 |214
 |788,000
|22,300
|-
 |1992/93
 |50,000
|1,420
|240,400
 |6,807
 |215
 |854,000
|24,200
|-
 |1993/94
 |50,000
|1,420
|253,700
 |7,184
 |227
 |660,000
|18,700
|-
 |1994/95
 |42,000
|1,190
|218,300
 |6,182
 |195
 |696,000
|19,700
|-
 |1995/96
 |36,000
|1,020
|209,700
 |5,938
 |187
 |502,000
|14,200
|-
 |1996/97
 | colspan="7" rowspan="4" | No incomplete data have been used 
for statistical calculation
|-
 |1997/98
 |-
 |1998/99
 |-
 |1999/00
|-
 |2000/01
 |46,000
|1,300
|249,500
 |7,067
 |223
 |901,000
|25,500
|-
 |2001/02
 |38,000
|1,080
|210,400
 |5,958
 |188
 |884,000
|25,000
|-
 |2002/03
 |48,000
|1,360
|236,500
 |6,697
 |211
 |543,000
|15,400
|-
 |2003/04
 |46,500
|1,320
|211,800
 |5,998
 |189
 |648,000
|18,350
|-
 |2004/05
 |41,000
|1,160
|254,600
 |7,209
 |228
 |1,240,000
|35,100
|-
 |2005/06
 |45,000
|1,270
|252,300
 |7,144
 |226
 |920,000
|26,050
|-
 |2006/07
 |38,000
|1,080
|213,600
 |6,048
 |191
 |531,000
|15,000
|-
 |2007/08
 |40,500
|1,150
|231,600
 |6,558
 |207
 |775,000
|21,950
|-
 |2008/09
 |48,000
|1,360
|231,900
 |6,567
 |207
 |1,090,000
|30,900
|-
 |2009/10
 |42,000
|1,190
|205,600
 |5,822
 |184
 |675,000
|19,100
|-
 |2010/11
 |47,000
|1,330
|227,000
 |6,428
 |203
 |670,000
|19,000
|-
 |2011/12
 |44,000
|1,250
|247,700
 |7,014
 |221
 |660,000
|18,700
|-
 |2012/13
 |48,500
|1,370
|231,700
 |6,561
 |207
 |820,000
|23,200
|-
 |2013/14
 |45,000
|1,270
|266,400
 |7,544
 |238
 |553,000
|15,700
|-
 |2014/15
 |55,000
|1,560
|229,400
 |6,499
 |205
 |621,000
|17,600
|-
 |2015/16
 |58,000
|1,640
|274,600
 |7,776
 |245
 |603,000
|17,100
|-
 |2016/17
 |46,700
|1,320
|214,900
 |6,085
 |192
 |562,000
|15,900
|-
 |2017/18
 |48,000
|1,360
|257,600
 |7,294
 |230
 |669,000
|18,900
|-
 |2018/19
 |60,900
|1,730
|233,300
 |6,606
 |208
 |647,000
|18,300
|-
 |2019/20
 |52,400
|1,480
|290,900
 |8,237
 |260
 |704,000
|19,900
|-
 |2020/21
 |50,900
|1,440
|262,200
 |7,425
 |234
 |589,000
|16,700
|-
 |2021/22
 |49,400
|1,400
|269,900
 |7,643
 |241
 |682,000
|19,300
|-
|2022/23
|64,900
|1,840
|300,900
|8,520
|269
|1,140,000
|32,300
|-
|2023/24
|63,000
|1,780
|266,700
|7,552
|238
|664,000
|18,800
|}

==Fisheries==
The Yukon River is home to one of the longest salmon runs in the world. Each year [[Chinook salmon|Chinook]], [[Coho salmon|coho]], and [[chum salmon]] return to their terminal streams in Alaska, the [[Yukon Territory]], and British Columbia. As salmon do not eat during their spawning migration, Yukon River salmon must have great reserves of fat and energy to fuel their thousands-mile-long journey. The Chinook, which arrive at the mouth of the Yukon River in early June, have the longest journey – as many as 2,000 miles against the current, with an estimated 35–50% bound for Canada. As a result, Chinook salmon are noted for their especially rich and fatty meat and are the priciest of all Pacific salmon species.<ref name="grist"/>

The villages along the Yukon have historically relied on and continue to rely on salmon for their cultural, subsistence, and commercial needs. Salmon are traditionally dried, smoked, and frozen for both human and [[sled dog]] consumption. Common methods of fishing on the Yukon include set [[gillnets]], [[drift netting|drift nets]], [[hand net|dip nets]], and [[fish wheel]]s. The preference of certain gear is largely dependent on the river's varied characteristics in different areas. Some parts of the river do not have eddies to make set-nets successful, whereas in other places the tributaries are small enough to make drifting impractical.

Over the last 20 years salmon recruitment, the number of returning adults, has taken several shocks. The late 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s have been marked by radically reduced runs for various salmon species. In the summer of 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted 58,500 Chinook salmon, the second lowest season on record.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/tab2-yukon-river-salmon-summary-fall-2023508.pdf | title=2023 Preliminary Yukon River Salmon Fisheries Review | access-date=2024-08-17 | website=www.doi.gov}}</ref> The [[United States Department of Commerce]] issued a Federal Disaster Declaration for the 2008 and 2009 Commercial Chinook Yukon River fisheries, calling for the complete closure of commercial fishing along with restrictions on subsistence fishing.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} The root cause of these poor returns remains debated, with questions about the effects of [[climate change]] on ocean food-supply & disease prevalence in returning adults, the methods of fishing used on the river, and the effects of the Bering Sea [[alaska pollock|Pollock]] [[trawling|trawl fleet]] on food supply and salmon bycatch.<ref>Thiessen, Mark. [http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/5569490/article-Feds-declare-fisheries-disaster-for-Yukon-River? ''Feds declare fisheries disaster for Yukon River''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206202847/http://www.newsminer.com/view/full_story/5569490/article-Feds-declare-fisheries-disaster-for-Yukon-River? |date=December 6, 2010 }}. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 15 March 2010</ref><ref>Hopkins, Kyle. [http://www.adn.com/2009/04/03/747828/pollock-vs-salmon-bycatch-issue.html Pollock vs. salmon bycatch issue stirs waters at meeting] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610132917/http://www.adn.com/2009/04/03/747828/pollock-vs-salmon-bycatch-issue.html |date=June 10, 2011 }}. Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 15 March 2010</ref> In 2010, the [[Alaska Department of Fish and Game|Alaska Department of Fish & Game's]] Board of Fisheries issued the first-ever restriction for net mesh size on the Yukon, reducing it to {{convert|7.5|in|mm}}.<ref>Associated Press. [http://www.adn.com/2010/02/01/1119656/fisheries-board-restricts-yukon.html ''Fisheries board restricts Yukon salmon gillnets''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309045928/http://www.adn.com/2010/02/01/1119656/fisheries-board-restricts-yukon.html |date=March 9, 2010 }}. Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 15 March 2010</ref> In 2021, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game's Division of Commercial Fisheries banned all fishing of Chinook and chum salmon, including for subsistence.<ref name="grist">{{cite web |url=https://grist.org/food/salmon-vanishing-yukon-river-way-of-life-alaska-native/ |title=Salmon are vanishing from the Yukon River — and so is a way of life |date= November 9, 2023 |access-date=November 24, 2023 |last= Graham |first=Max |website=Grist}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/applications/dcfnewsrelease/1323432313.pdf|title=Request Rejected}}</ref>

Various organizations are involved to protect healthy salmon runs into the future. The Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association was formed in 1990 by a consensus of fishers representing the entire drainage in response to recent disaster years. Its organizational goals include giving voice to the village fishers that have traditionally managed these resources, enabling communication between fishers and fishery managers, and helping to preserve the ecological integrity of salmon runs and local cultures' Traditional Ecological Knowledge<ref>Sea Grant Alaska. [http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/00ASJ/03.07.00_Fishermen.html ''Yukon Fishermen Celebrate Ten Years'']. Arctic Science Journeys. Retrieved 15 March 2010</ref>

In March 2001, the U.S. & Canadian governments passed the Yukon River Salmon Agreement to better manage an internationally shared resource and ensure that more Canadian-originated salmon return across the border.<ref>[http://yukonriverpanel.com/salmon/about/yukon-river-salmon-agreement/ Yukon River Salmon Agreement]. ''Yukonriverpanel.com'', March 2001</ref> The agreement is implemented through the Yukon River Panel, an international body of 12 members, equal-parts American and Canadian, that advises managers of Yukon River fisheries concerning restoration, conservation, and coordinated management.<ref>[http://yukonriverpanel.com/salmon/about/organizational-structure/yukon-river-panel/ Bylaws of the Yukon River Panel Society]. ''Yukonriverpanel.com'', November 2002</ref>

Tribal organizations such as the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments (CATG), and [[Tanana Chiefs Conference]] (TCC) work to sustain Yukon River salmon to promote healthy people, cultures, and communities.

==Tributaries==
[[File:Río Yukón, Carmacks, Yukón, Canadá, 2017-08-27, DD 01-04 PAN.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2.5|Yukon River near [[Carmacks, Yukon|Carmacks]]]]

===Yukon Territory===
[[File:The Yukon River.jpg|thumb|The Yukon River, as seen from the Midnight Dome in [[Dawson City, Yukon]]]]
* [[Takhini River]]
* [[Big Salmon River (Yukon)|Big Salmon River]]
* Little Salmon River (Yukon)
* Nordenskiold River
* [[Teslin River]]
* [[Pelly River]]
** [[Macmillan River]]
* [[Stewart River (Yukon)|Stewart River]]
** Nadaleen River
** Lansing River
** Hess River
** Mayo River
** McQuesten River
* [[White River (Yukon)|White River]]
** Donjek River
*** Kluane River
*** Nisling River
** Beaver Creek
* [[Sixtymile River]]
* [[Indian River (Yukon)|Indian River]]
* [[Klondike River]]
* [[Fortymile River]]

===Alaska===
* Tatonduk River
* Seventymile River
* Nation River
* Fourth of July Creek
* [[Kandik River]]
* [[Charley River]]
* [[Porcupine River]]
*: (tributaries in the Yukon)
** Miner tributaries
*** [[Fishing Branch]]
** Bell River
*** Eagle River
*** Rock River (Yukon)
** Driftwood River (Yukon)
** [[Old Crow River]]
** Bluefish River
*: (tributaries in Alaska)
** [[Coleen River]]
** [[Black River (Alaska)|Black River]]
*** Wood River
*** Bear Mountain Creek
*** Mountain Creek
** Chandalar Creek
** [[Sheenjek River]]
*** Sheenjek River East Fork
*** Koness River
*** Eskimo Creek
* [[Christian River]]
* [[Chandalar River]]
** [[East Fork Chandalar River]]
*** Junjik River
*** [[Wind River (northern Alaska)|Wind River]]
** Middle Fork Chandalar River
** [[North Fork Chandalar River]]
** West Fork Chandalar River
** [[Marten Creek (Chandalar River tributary)|Marten Creek]]
* [[Birch Creek (Yukon River tributary)|Birch Creek]]
* Hadweenzic River
* [[Beaver Creek (Alaska)|Beaver Creek]]
* [[Hodzana River]]
* Dall River
* Ray River
* Big Salt River
* Hess Creek
* Garnet Creek
** Fish Creek
* Texas Creek
* Coal Creek
* [[Tanana River]]
** [[Nabesna River]]
** Chisana River
** Tetlin River
** [[Goodpaster River]]
** [[Delta River]]
** [[Salcha River]]
** [[Chena River]]
** Wood River
** [[Nenana River]]
** Tolovana River
** [[Kantishna River]]
* NC Creek
* Tozitna River
** Bluebell Creek
** Dagislakhna Creek
*** Banddana Creek
* Blind River
* Bering Creek
* [[Nowitna River]]
** Sulatna River
* Big Creek
** Beaver Creek
** Glacier Creek
* [[Melozitna River]]
** Black Sand Creek
** Little Melozitna River
* Ruby Slough
* Yuki River
** East Fork Yuki River
* Kala Creek
** Kelly Creek
* [[Galena Creek]]
* Bishop Creek
[[File:Junction of the Yukon and Koyukuk Rivers, Alaska.jpg|thumb|[[Anabranch]]es near the junction of the Yukon River and the [[Koyukuk River]] in [[Alaska]], August 24, 1941]]
* [[Koyukuk River]]
** Workyard Creek
** Gisasa River
** Kateel River
** Dulbi River
** [[Huslia River]]
*** Nulitna River
*** Tom Cook Slough
*** Billy Hawk Creek
** Cutoff Slough
** [[Hogatza River]]
*** Clear Creek
** Batza River
** Matthews Slough
*** Little Indian River
*** Indian River
**** Calamity Creek
*** Pocahontas Creek
** [[Kanuti River]]
** Discovery Creek
** [[Alatna River]]
*** Siruk Creek
** South Fork Koyokouk River
*** Jim River
** Jane Creek
** [[John River (Alaska)|John River]]
** [[North Fork Koyukuk River]]
* Nulato River
* Khotol River
* [[Anvik River]]
* [[Bonasila River]]
** Stuyahok River
* [[Innoko River]]
** Paimiut Slough
*** Reindeer River
** [[Iditarod River]]
*** Yetna River
*** First Chance Creek
** Mud River
** Dishna River
*** Coffee Creek
*** Tolstoi Creek
**** Madison Creek
**** Mastodon Creek
***** Hurst Creek
** Taft Creek
** Finland Creek
** Scandinavian Creek
** North Fork Innoko River
*** Tango Creek
*** West Fork North Fork Innoko River
** Colorado Creek
* Kako Creek
* Engineer Creek
* Reindeer River
* [[Atchuelinguk River]]
* [[Andreafsky River]]
* Kashunuk River (distributary)

===List of major tributaries===

The main river and tributaries are (sorted in order from the mouth heading upstream):<ref name="Alaska Guide Co">{{Cite web|url=https://alaska.guide|title=Alaska Guide - Wilderness Tours and Information|website=alaska.guide}}</ref><ref name="Yukon"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 ! Left
tributary
 ! Right
tributary
 ! Length
(km)
 ! Basin size
(km<sup>2</sup>)
 ! Average discharge
(m<sup>3</sup>/s)<sup>*</sup>
 |-
 | colspan="2" |''Yukon''
 |''3,190''
 
|''854,700''
 |''7,000''
 |-
 |colspan="5"|'''[[Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta|Yukon Delta]]'''
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |
 |Nanvaranak Slough
 |
 |1,735
 |28.1
 |-
|Archuelinguk
 
|56
 |705
 |12.8
 |-
 |colspan="5"|'''Lower Yukon'''
 |-
 |
 |[[Andreafsky River|Andreafsky]]
 |193
 |5,369
 |91.4
 |-
 |Kashunuk
(distributary)
 |
 |362
 |2,906
 |51.7
 |-
 |
 |[[Atchuelinguk River|Atchuelinguk]]
 |266
 |5,439
 |73.8
 |-
 |Reindeer
 | rowspan="2" |
 |97
 |1,191
 |22
 |-
 |Talbiksok
 
|129
 
|1,857
 |26.5
 |-
 |
 |Kako Creek
 |
 |550
 |9.8
 |-
 |[[Innoko River|Innoko]]
 | rowspan="2" |
 |805
 |36,517
 |335.5
 |-
 |Koserefski
 
|48
 
|897
 |13.1
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |
 |[[Bonasila River|Bonasila]]
 |201
 |3,108
 |43.7
 |-
|[[Anvik River|Anvik]]
 
|225
 |4,610
 |65
 |-
 |Khotol
 |
 |137
 |2,331
 |40.1
 |-
 | rowspan="3" |
 |Nulato
 |114
 |2,287
 |54.2
 |-
|[[Koyukuk River|Koyukuk]]
 
|805
 |81,326
 |770
 |-
|Bear Creek
 
|
 |789
 |10.8
 |-
 |Kala Creek
 | rowspan="2" |
 |
 |893
 |13
 |-
 |Yuki
 
|137
 
|2,771
 |33.4
 |-
 |
 |[[Melozitna River|Melozitna]]
 |217
 |7,045
 |67.6
 |-
 |Big Creek
 | rowspan="4" |
 |
 |814
 |4.6
 |-
 |[[Nowitna River|Nowitna]]
 
|455
 
|18,596
 |102.4
 |-
 |Blind
 
|34
 
|587
 |3.4
 |-
 |Boney Creek
 
|72
 
|788
 |3.9
 |-
 |
 |Tozitna
 |134
 |4,248
 |28.2
 |-
 |[[Tanana River|Tanana]]
 |
 |1,061
 |113,959
 |1,246
 |-
 |colspan="5"|'''Middle Yukon'''
 |-
 |Hess Creek
 |
 |80
 |3,082
 |15.6
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |
 |[[Ray River (Alaska)|Ray]]
 |69
 |1,751
 |14.2
 |-
|[[Dall River|Dall]]
 
|129
 |3,714
 |17.6
 |-
 |Old Lost Creek
 |
 |
 |
 |10.3
 |-
 |
 |[[Hodzana River|Hodzana]]
 |201
 |4,323
 |19.5
 |-
 |[[Beaver Creek (Yukon River tributary)|Beaver Creek]]
 |
 |290
 |5,426
 |54.9
 |-
 |
 |Hadweenzic
 |150
 |2,422
 |19.4
 |-
 |[[Birch Creek (Yukon River tributary)|Birch Creek]]
 |
 |241
 |13,064
 |127
 |-
 | rowspan="3" |
 |[[Chandalar River|Chandalar]]
 |328
 |24,165
 |141.8
 |-
|[[Christian River|Christian]]
 
|225
 |8,827
 |67.8
 |-
|[[Porcupine River|Porcupine]]
 
|916
 |116,431
 |623
 |-
 |[[Charley River|Charley]]
 |
 |142
 |4,377
 |22.7
 |-
 | rowspan="3" |
 |[[Kandik River|Kandik]]
 |132
 |2,840
 |19.7
 |-
|Nation
 
|113
 |2,411
 |24.6
 |-
|Tatonduk
 
|110
 |
 |15.6
 |-
 |colspan="5"|'''Upper Yukon'''
 |-
 |Seventymile
 | rowspan="2" |
 |93
 |
 |7.5
 |-
 |[[Fortymile River|Fortymile]]
 
|97
 
|16,602
 |79.4
 |-
 | rowspan="2" |
 |[[Klondike River|Klondike]]
 |161
 |8,044
 |63.9
 |-
|[[Indian River (Yukon)|Indian]]
 
|
 |2,242
 |20.4
 |-
 |[[Sixtymile River|Sixtymile]]
 |
 |137
 |3,719
 |25.4
 |-
 |
 |[[Stewart River (Yukon)|Stewart]]
 |533
 |51,023
 |510
 |-
 |[[White River (Yukon)|White]]
 |
 |322
 |46,900
 |566
 |-
 |
 |[[Pelly River|Pelly]]
 |608
 |48,174
 |412
 |-
 |Nordenskiöld
 |
 |
 |6,371
 |16
 |-
 | rowspan="3" |
 |Little Salmon
 |
 |3,626
 |9.7
 |-
|[[Big Salmon River (Yukon)|Big Salmon]]
 
|240
 |6,760
 |67.6
 |-
 |
[[Teslin River|Teslin]]
|393
 |35,014
 |331
 |-
 |[[Takhini River|Takhini]]
 |
 |180
 |6,993
 |103.1
 |-
 |
 |[[Atlin River|Atlin]]
 |
 |6,812
 |110
|}
<sup>*</sup>Period: 1971–2000

== In media ==

* The Yukon River features as the setting for the 2015 [[National Geographic Channel]] series ''[[Yukon River Run]]''.<ref name="real">{{cite web|url=http://realscreen.com/2015/06/26/river-run-port-protection-to-bow-on-nat-geo/|title=Nat Geo sets summer premieres for adventure series|work=Real Screen|first=Daniele|last=Alcinii|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=August 31, 2015}}</ref>
* The [[industrial metal]] band [[Lindemann (band)|Lindemann]] wrote a song named "Yukon" on their first album ''[[Skills in Pills]]''.

==See also==
* [[Alaska salmon fishery]]
* [[List of longest rivers of Canada]]
* [[List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem)]]
* [[List of rivers of Alaska]]
* [[List of Yukon rivers]]
* [[List of rivers of British Columbia]]
* [[Steamboats of the Yukon River]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{NIE Poster|Yukon River|year=1905}}
* [https://arcticgreatrivers.org/ Arctic Great Rivers Observatory]
* [http://www.ccge.org/resources/rivers_of_canada/yukon_river/default.asp Canadian Council for Geographic Education page with a series of articles on the history of the Yukon River] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304024613/http://www.ccge.org/resources/rivers_of_canada/yukon_river/default.asp |date=2012-03-04 }}
* [http://www.yukonriverbridge.com/ The Yukon River Bridge at Dawson City]
* [http://www.yritwc.org/ Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council]
* [http://yukonsalmon.org/ Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association]
* [http://yukonriverpanel.com/salmon/ Yukon River Panel]

{{Canadian Heritage Rivers System}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Yukon River| ]]
[[Category:Drainage basins of the Bering Sea]]
[[Category:Canadian Heritage Rivers]]
[[Category:International rivers of North America]]
[[Category:Rivers of Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Rivers of Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska]]
[[Category:Rivers of Alaska]]
[[Category:Rivers of Yukon]]
[[Category:Rivers of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Rivers of Unorganized Borough, Alaska]]
[[Category:Braided rivers in Alaska]]