Yukon River: Facts and Information

Yukon River Facts

  • The Yukon River’s total drainage area is more than 800,000 square km.

  • The river gives its name to a  territory in Canada – the Yukon.
  • During the Klondike Gold Rush (late 1800s, early 1900s) the Yukon River was the main means of transportation.
  • The Yukon flows past the settlements of Carmacks, Dawson City, Fort Yukon, Russian mission and Pilot station (and many more).
  • Fiver Finger Rapids and Rink Rapids are located on the Yukon River.
  • Only 4 of the bridges spanning the river can support vehicles. These are: the Lewes Bridge, the Robert Campbell Bridge, the Yukon River Bridge (Carmacks) and the Yukon River Bridge (Dalton Highway)

Yukon River

  • In the summer, there is a car ferry across the Yukon River. In winter, when the temperatures plummet, an ice bridge forms on the frozen water.
  • On of the longest salmon runs in the world is located in the Yukon River, and salmon continue to be an important food source for communities living near the river.
  • Some of the Yukon’s tributaries include: Big Salmon River, Stewart River, White River, Klondike River, Indian River, Beaver Creek, Bering Creek and Reindeer River.
  • The name Yukon means ‘white water river’. Glacial silt does make the waters of the Yukon look white.

Yukon River Fact File

Countries: Canada and the United States

Length: About 3190 km (1982 miles)

Source: Llewellyn Glacier (Atlin Lake), British Columbia, Canada.

Mouth: