Made famous by the Klondike Gold Rush and the works of Jack London and Robert Service, the Yukon River shares the position of second longest river in North America with the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The Mackenzie River is the record holder, at 2,600 miles in length, it's 300 miles longer than the others.

The name "Yukon" comes from a native term meaning, aptly, "great river" and the history and mystique of the river have spawned the creation of annual events such as the Yukon River Quest and the Yukon River Trail Marathon. During winter, when the river is frozen, it provides part of the routes for both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod sled dog races. The river was used for the same purpose during the Gold Rush, with dogteams carrying mail and supplies in a way familiar to anyone who has read Jack London's "The Call of the Wild".

The Yukon River stretches from a stream at the south end of Atlin Lake to the Bering Sea. The stream is fed by the Llewellyn Glacier which is not far from the Pacific coast. In all its length, the Yukon River is bridged only four times; at Whitehorse, Carmacks, and at the northern end of Marsh Lake in the Yukon and just north of Livengood in Alaska. 195 cubic kilometres of water pass through the Yukon River delta every year, the drainage area for the river being 25% bigger than Texas.

As to the question of "how deep is the Yukon River?", there is no specific answer. Over its length the depth of the river varies depending on location and season. Suffice it to say, as it gets closer to the Bering Sea it gets wider and deeper and all along its length paddlers are advised to be wary of its powerful currents and eddies and take the necessary precautions when canoeing the river.

The river passes through the Yukon capital of Whitehorse and the Alaskan city of Fairbanks as well as the historic city of Dawson, site of the Klondike Gold Rush. The Yukon River was, until recently, the main artery through the Yukon Territories and the interior of Alaska. Sternwheelers plied their trade along the river moving people and goods between Whitehorse and Dawson City. At one time you could get a boat from Dawson City to St Michael on the Bering Sea.

The old Whitehorse rapids, now tamed by a dam, and Five Finger rapids were historically the only obstacles to traveling the length of the river and presented a formidable challenge to the homemade boats of prospectors heading for the Klondike gold fields. Nowadays, the Whitehorse dam and the Yukon-Alaska border are the main barriers.

Most people's Yukon River adventures encompass only a section of the river, but for some, from Llewellyn Glacier to the Bering Sea is the only way to go. To paddle or raft the length of the river, including portaging around the dam, takes about three months and should be planned well in advance using a current map of the Yukon River and up to date river guide.

So if are searching for a wilderness getaway, as well as a journey into history along the route taken by the prospectors of the Last Great Gold Rush, then seriously consider a Yukon River adventure.

Ken Searcy
http://www.yukonbooks.com/