Nabesna River

Nabesna River
Country United States
State Alaska
Census Area ValdezCordova, Southeast Fairbanks
Source Nabesna Glacier
 - location Wrangell Mountains, Alaska Range, Valdez–Cordova Census Area, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
 - elevation 3,061 ft (933 m) [1]
 - coordinates 62°10′10″N 142°51′00″W / 62.16944°N 142.85000°W [2]
Mouth Tanana River [2]
 - location 41 miles (66 km) southeast of Tok, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge
 - elevation 1,690 ft (515 m) [2]
 - coordinates 63°02′57″N 141°51′57″W / 63.04917°N 141.86583°WCoordinates: 63°02′57″N 141°51′57″W / 63.04917°N 141.86583°W [2]
Length 73 mi (117 km) [2]
Location of the mouth of the Nabesna River in Alaska

The Nabesna River is a 73-mile (117 km) tributary of the Tanana River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[2] Beginning at Nabesna Glacier in the Alaska Range, it flows north-northeast from Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve to join the Chisana River near Northway Junction.[3] The combined rivers form the Tanana.[3]

Boating

The Nabesna River, swift-flowing in its upper reaches, passes through a deep valley that opens into broad plain. Gradually slowing, the river enters the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, a region of marshes, hills, lakes, and forests of spruce and birch.[4]

The river, suited to running by rafts, hard-shelled kayaks, or decked canoes, is rated Class I (easy) to Class II (medium) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. The current is swift on the stream's upper 40 miles (64 km) and slow from there to the mouth. Dangers include cold, swift, silty water, and braided channels. Glacier melt may cause flow rates to rise significantly between morning and afternoon on warm days.[5]

Fishing

The Nabesna is a popular fishing site in Alaska. Species such as the Rainbow Trout, King Salmon, Red Salmon and Coho Salmon.

Rainbow Trout

See also

References

  1. Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Nabesna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2010. pp. 9899, 109. ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5.
  4. "Nabesna River". Trails.com, Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  5. Jettmar, Karen (2008) [1993]. The Alaska River Guide: Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting in the Last Frontier (3rd ed.). Birmingham, Alabama: Menasha Ridge Press. pp. 24748. ISBN 978-0-89732-957-6.