Awuna River

Awuna River
Location of the mouth of the Awuna River in Alaska
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughNorth Slope
Physical characteristics
SourceSwamp north of Lookout Ridge
 • locationNational Petroleum Reserve
 • coordinates69°20′01″N 158°45′22″W / 69.33361°N 158.75611°W / 69.33361; -158.75611[1]
 • elevation1,202 ft (366 m)[2]
MouthColville River
 • location
West of Angoyakvik Pass, National Petroleum Reserve
 • coordinates
69°02′55″N 155°27′48″W / 69.04861°N 155.46333°W / 69.04861; -155.46333[1]
 • elevation
722 ft (220 m)[1]
Length200 mi (320 km)[1]

The Awuna River also called Sakvailak by the Iñupiat is a 200-mile (320 km) tributary of the Colville River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[1] Located entirely within the National Petroleum Reserve, it arises in a swamp north of Lookout Ridge in the North Slope Borough.[3] It flows generally east to meet the larger river west of Angoyakvik Pass.[3]

Etymology

The river's name Awuna means "westward" or Uwanmun. The name given to the river now by the Iñupiat is Sakvailak.[1][4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Awuna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  2. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. ^ a b Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2010. pp. 134–36. ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5.
  4. ^ Dictionary of Alaska Place Names