Yukon

Yukon, the great river of Alaska (q.v.), is formed by the junction of the Lewis and Pelly at Fort Selkirk, in British territory (62° 45' N. lat.), and flows westward across the territory of Alaska into Behring Sea. Its length is some 2000 miles; in its lower course it is more than 20 miles wide, and for 400 miles from 1 to 4 miles wide. It is navigable by steamers for 1840 miles. But the deposits of mud and silt have formed a great delta which prevents vessels at sea from approaching within 60 miles of its many mouths. Part of the year its waters swarm with salmon, some of 120 lb. At the mouth, where the river is known as Kwikpak, is Fort St Michael; Nuklukahyet, 800 miles up, is a more important place. Since 1895 the river gives name to a territory of the Canadian northwest, north of British Columbia; gold is found there. In 1897 there was a 'gold rush' to the Klondyke (q.v.), within the Yukon basin.