The great Yukon River enters Alaska from Canada through the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve before making its way westward across the State and flowing out to the Bering Sea.
Here the riverbed follows a great geologic fault, and the flows are swift.
A heavy silt load causes channel braiding in large sections of the river.
Side-streams tumble from the hinterlands; chief among these are the 100-mile long wild river Charley, the Kandik, and the Nation.
The preserve includes all 106-river miles of the Charley River and its entire 1.1 million-acre watershed.
The preserve protects 115 miles of the 1,800-mile Yukon River and the entire Charley River basin. Numerous rustic cabins and historic sites are reminders of the importance of the Yukon River during the 1898 gold rush.
Paleontological and archeological sites here add much to our knowledge of the environment thousands of years ago.
Special Park features:
The historic Coal Creek dredge and camp offers a view of life in an Alaskan bush gold operation. Cabins along the route depict the lifestyles of the trappers, miners, and woodcutters of a bygone era.
Where to contact for information:
Yukon-Charlie Rivers National Preserve, 201 First Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701; 907-456-0593.
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