Charley River

The Charley River is an 88-mile (142 km) tributary of the Yukon River in the U.S. state of Alaska.^[1] Flowing generally northeast from the Mertie Mountains (named after geologist John Beaver Mertie, Jr.) in the northeastern part of the state, the river lies entirely within Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve.^[4] The Charley River enters the larger river downstream and 55 miles (89 km) northwest of Eagle.^[1]

Charly River
Flowing through Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve
Location of the mouth of the Charley River in Alaska
Location
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Southeast Fairbanks, Yukon–Koyukuk
Physical characteristics
Source	Mertie Mountains
• location	Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
• coordinates	64°42′15″N 144°02′41″W[1]
• elevation	4,023 ft (1,226 m)[2]
Mouth	Yukon River
• location	55 miles (89 km) northwest of Eagle, Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area
• coordinates	65°19′02″N 142°46′50″W[1]
• elevation	686 ft (209 m)[1]
Length	88 mi (142 km)[1]
National Wild and Scenic River
Type	Wild 208.0 miles (334.7 km)
Designated	December 2, 1980[3]

In 1980, the Charley River and all of its main tributaries became part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.^[5] A total of 208 miles (335 km) was declared "wild" along the entire main stem as well as Copper, Bonanza, Hosford, Derwent, Flat-Orthmer, Crescent, and Moraine creeks.^[5]

The Charley River watershed is forested chiefly with black spruce and white spruce.^[6] This general locus within the Yukon River catchment is the approximate westernmost limit of the black spruce, Picea mariana.^[7] The river forms part of the boundary between the Southeast Fairbanks and Yukon–Koyukuk census areas.

Boating

The Charley River is generally floated by raft or inflatable canoe or kayak. The upper river is rated Class III (intermediate) on the International Scale of River Difficulty, rising to Class IV (advanced) in high water. The lower 76 miles (122 km) are rated Class II (novice) to III. Dangers include swift current, overhanging or submerged vegetation, rocks, rapids, and weather-related fluctuations in water levels.^[8]

See also

• List of rivers of Alaska

References

1. "Charley River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
2. Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
3. "National Wild and Scenic Rivers System". rivers.gov. National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
4. Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2010. pp. 118, 128. ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5.
5. "Charley River, Alaska". National Wild and Scenic Rivers. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
6. J.G. Clough et al. 1995
7. C. Michael Hogan. 2008
8. Jettmar, Karen (2008) [1993]. The Alaska River Guide: Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting in the Last Frontier (3rd ed.). Birmingham, Alabama: Menasha Ridge Press. pp. 100–02. ISBN 978-0-89732-957-6.

Works cited

• J.G. Clough et al. 1995. Geological Map of the Charley Basin, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• C. Michael Hogan. 2008. Black Spruce: Picea mariana, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg