White River (Yukon)

White River
White River near Beaver Creek, Yukon
Location of the mouth of the White River in Yukon
Native nameTadzan ndek (Hän)
Location
Countries
  • United States
  • Canada
State/Territory
Census AreaValdez–Cordova in Alaska
Physical characteristics
SourceRussell Glacier
 • locationWrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Saint Elias Mountains, Alaska
 • coordinates61°40′18″N 141°50′01″W / 61.67167°N 141.83361°W / 61.67167; -141.83361[1]
 • elevation4,258 ft (1,298 m)[2]
MouthYukon River[1]
 • location
12 miles (19 km) upstream of the mouth of the Stewart River, Yukon
 • coordinates
63°11′24″N 139°35′23″W / 63.19000°N 139.58972°W / 63.19000; -139.58972[1]
 • elevation
2,129 ft (649 m)[1]
Length200 mi (320 km)[3]

The White River (French: Rivière Blanche; Hän: Tadzan ndek) is a tributary about 200 miles (320 km) long, of the Yukon River in the U.S. state of Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon.[3] The Alaska Highway crosses the White River near Beaver Creek.

The White River is glacier-fed and contains large amounts of suspended sediment. It transports 19 million tons of sediment per year in the upper part of its basin.[4] This dramatically changes the clarity of the Yukon River, which remains sediment laden from the confluence to its mouth.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  2. ^ Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
  3. ^ a b Orth, Donald J.; United States Geological Survey (1971) [1967]. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names: Geological Survey Professional Paper 567 (PDF). University of Alaska Fairbanks. p. 1044. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Transport of Water, Carbon, and Sediment Through the Yukon River Basin