Information About

Alatna River

Alatna River

Quick Facts
Region:
  • Yukon-Koyukuk (CA)
Nearest City:
Tributary to:
Length:
  • 145 mi (233.35 km)
Elevation:
  • 400 ft (121.92 m)
About

flows SE 145 mi. to Koyukuk River at Allakaket; Kanuti Flats.

History of Alatna River

Koyukan Indian name reported in 1885 by Lieutenant Allen (1887, p. 98), USA, as "Allenkakat," or "mouth of the Allen." not know if this was an attempt by Allen to commemorate himself of whether it was an unintentional corruption of "Allakaket," or "mouth of Ala." latter is true, and that all white men (in 1917) corrupted "Allakaket" to "Allenkaket" because the pronunciation was easier for those speaking English. have been obtained in 1899 by F. C. Schrader and T. G. Gerdine, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), although the latter still showed "Allenkakat River" on his fieldsheet. in 1886 by Lieutenant Stoney (1900, map), U.S. Navy (USN), "Al-lash-ook" and in 1885 by Lieutenant Cantwell, U.S. Revenue-Cutter Service (USRCS), "Ah-lash-ok" (Healy, 1887, p. 39). W. C. Mendenhall and D. L. Reaburn's 1901 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) expedition showed the "Alatna" and "Alasuk," which since 1885 had been represented as different streams, to be the same. came to be the most commonly accepted name.