| Chandalar River | |
|---|---|
 East Fork of the Chandalar River, atArctic Village | |
  Location of the mouth of the Chandalar River in Alaska | |
| Native name | T'eedrinjik (Gwichʼin) |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Yukon–Koyukuk |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | confluence of the river's north and middle forks |
| • location | southeasternBrooks Range, 23 miles (37 km) south-southeast ofChandalar |
| • coordinates | 67°10′13″N148°17′50″W / 67.17028°N 148.29722°W /67.17028; -148.29722[1] |
| • elevation | 1,203 ft (367 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Yukon River |
• location | 20 miles (32 km) northwest ofFort Yukon,Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge |
• coordinates | 66°36′33″N146°00′09″W / 66.60917°N 146.00250°W /66.60917; -146.00250[1] |
• elevation | 387 ft (118 m)[1] |
| Length | 100 mi (160 km)[1] |
| Basin size | 9,330 sq mi (24,200 km2)[3][4] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | nearVenetie[3][5] |
| • average | 5,007 cu ft/s (141.8 m3/s)[3][5] |
| • maximum | 62,800 cu ft/s (1,780 m3/s) |
TheChandalar River (T'eedriinjik[6] inGwich'in) is a 100-mile (160 km) tributary of theYukon River in theU.S. state ofAlaska.[1] Its French name was "Gens de Large" or "nomadic people" which when written in English from its local pronunciation evolved into "Chandalar."[7] Its peak flow, recorded by theUnited States Geological Survey (USGS) between 1964 and 1974 at astream gauge atVenetie, was 62,800 cubic feet per second (1,780 m3/s) on June 9, 1968.[3]
The Chandalar Rivermain stem begins at the confluence of the North Fork Chandalar River and the Middle Fork Chandalar River and flows generally southeast through the state's northern interior southeast of thePhilip Smith Mountains of theBrooks Range.[8] The Chandalar enters the Yukon River 20 miles (32 km) northwest ofFort Yukon.[1]
In 2015 the Chandalar became federally recognized by theUnited States Board on Geographic Names as their indigenousGwichʼin namesTeedriinjik River meaning "shimmering river" andCh'idriinjik River meaning "heart river". The names had been in use for over a thousand years by theAthabaskans.[9]
North Fork Chandalar River, 104 miles (167 km) long,[10] begins nearAtigun Pass in theBrooks Range and flows generally southeast throughChandalar Lake to meet the Middle Fork and form the main stem.[8] At the North Fork, headwaters is a flat valley known as Chandalar shelf just east of theDalton Highway, wherecaribou are known to winter.
The 102-mile (164 km) Middle Fork Chandalar River[11] heads up in the Philip Smith Mountains east of Atigun Pass.[8] It flows generally south from the mountains to join the North Fork.[8]
East Fork Chandalar River, 175 miles (282 km) long,[12] starts near theRomanzof Mountains in the eastern Brooks Range.[8] From there, it flows generally southwest pastArctic Village to enter the main stem upstream of Venetie.[8]
West Fork Chandalar River, a 24-mile (39 km) tributary of the North Fork Chandalar River, flows east from mountainous terrain east ofColdfoot. It joins the North Fork 5 miles (8 km) upstream of that stream's confluence with the Middle Fork.[13]
There is a weather station in the Chandalar Shelf Valley nearAtigun Pass. Chandalar Shelf has asubarctic climate (KöppenDfc), bordering on atundra climate (KöppenET).
| Climate data for Chandalar Shelf, Alaska, 1991–2020 normals, precip/snowfall 2001-2012: 3250ft (991m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 0.9 (−17.3) | 4.6 (−15.2) | 8.8 (−12.9) | 23.8 (−4.6) | 40.6 (4.8) | 57.6 (14.2) | 57.7 (14.3) | 51.6 (10.9) | 39.3 (4.1) | 20.0 (−6.7) | 8.5 (−13.1) | 3.5 (−15.8) | 26.4 (−3.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | −4.8 (−20.4) | −1.8 (−18.8) | 1.3 (−17.1) | 15.5 (−9.2) | 33.7 (0.9) | 49.0 (9.4) | 51.0 (10.6) | 44.2 (6.8) | 32.0 (0.0) | 14.2 (−9.9) | 2.6 (−16.3) | −2.3 (−19.1) | 19.6 (−6.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −10.6 (−23.7) | −8.2 (−22.3) | −6.2 (−21.2) | 7.3 (−13.7) | 26.8 (−2.9) | 40.3 (4.6) | 44.3 (6.8) | 36.8 (2.7) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 8.5 (−13.1) | −3.3 (−19.6) | −8.1 (−22.3) | 12.7 (−10.7) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.73 (19) | 0.84 (21) | 0.31 (7.9) | 0.65 (17) | 0.91 (23) | 1.37 (35) | 2.24 (57) | 1.86 (47) | 1.39 (35) | 1.10 (28) | 0.67 (17) | 0.85 (22) | 12.92 (328.9) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 13.1 (33) | 16.2 (41) | 6.5 (17) | 14.9 (38) | 6.9 (18) | 0.8 (2.0) | trace | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.7 (6.9) | 17.1 (43) | 13.6 (35) | 13.6 (35) | 105.5 (269.15) |
| Source 1: NOAA[14] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (precipitation & snowfall)[15] | |||||||||||||
Although the lower river can be fished fornorthern pike,sheefish, andsalmon, the upper river, its tributaries, headwaters, and nearby lakes offer "the most exciting fishing possibilities".[16] The mainsportfishing species in the basin are northern pike,Arctic grayling,charr, andlake trout.[16]
Anglers and hunters typically enter the region by airplane or, in winter, by snowmobile. It is possible for experienced boaters to float and fish the river system in rafts or kayaks. Hazards include shallows and rapids. There are no public campgrounds or other facilities; however, there is a fishing lodge at Chandalar Lake.[16]
