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Delta River
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Delta River
The Delta River (Middle Tanana: Niithaayh Ndiige) is a river in eastern Alaska, United States. It is a tributary of the Tanana River, and by extension the Yukon. Originating from the Tangle Lakes, the river flows north through the Alaska Range, carving a valley perpendicular to the east-west mountain range. Initially clear and slow-moving, it becomes faster and silty after taking in Eureka Creek, its first major tributary. As it flows through the Alaska Range, it takes in meltwater from various glaciers and glacier-fed streams. At the end of its roughly 80-mile (130 km) course, the river meets the Tanana near the settlements of Big Delta and Delta Junction. The geology of the basin is highly complex, with various glacier-shaped landforms and alluvial deposits from the river. Dust from the river valley is spread by the wind and forms a layer of loess to the west of the river. The river basin is home to various birds, mammals (including caribou), and plants, while the water hosts fish such as northern pike and arctic grayling.
The uppermost portions of the Delta River basin are in the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District, containing over 600 documented archaeological sites, with the earliest occupation appearing to be from over 10,000 years ago. The Upper Tanana Athabaskans and the Ahtna both lived in the basin and hunted around it. In 1885, American army officer Henry Tureman Allen explored the river and named it for its braided water channels. Gold mining and road construction took place in the river valley during the early 1900s, followed by the construction of the Richardson Highway running parallel to the river. Agricultural development projects were made around the river during the 1970s and 1980s, although most of the river basin remains wilderness under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. A portion of the upper Delta River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1985.
The Delta River flows for about 80 mi (130 km) through central Alaska, flowing north through a pass in the Alaska Range to the Tanana River. The source of the river is Lower Tangle Lake, the lowest of the Tangle Lakes chain to the west of Paxson, Alaska.
From its source, the Delta flows at a low velocity for about 2 mi (3 km) north, through a series of small pools and riffles, before descending a 15 ft (4.6 m) waterfall. After this fall, the river narrows from 130 to 60 ft (40 to 18 m) in width and gains an increased velocity. About 4 mi (6 km) upstream from the falls, the river slows and widens again, splitting into several channels with sand and gravel bottoms. About another mile further upstream, it slows more, and widens to a channel about 100 ft (30 m) wide and 3 ft (1 m) deep.
About 10 mi (16 km) from its source, the Delta River receives its first major tributary along its western bank, Eureka Creek, which carries meltwater from various glaciers along the southern face of the Alaska Range. This is followed by various other minor tributary streams until its confluence with Phelan Creek 6 miles (10 km) upriver, which drains the Gulkana Glacier. After this, it enters a narrow pass running through the Alaska Range, and flows north through the mountains for about 13 miles (21 km), as it receives meltwater from glaciers and various steep mountain streams. Among the largest glaciers in the region, the Black Rapids Glacier, drains into the river at a site called Black Rapids. The average elevation of the river during this section is about 2,400 ft (730 m), flanked on either side by the adjacent mountains of the Alaska Range, which range in elevation from 6,000–9,000 ft (1,800–2,700 m) at their summits.
About 9 miles (14 km) after Black Rapids, the valley grows shallow, and the Delta runs through an expanse of glacial moraines for about 25 miles (40 km). After this, it flows through a wide stretch of glaciofluvial fans for the last 16 miles (26 km) of its course. At the beginning of this section, it lies in a valley that descends to up to 200 feet (60 m) beneath the surface of the fans, decreasing to about 50 feet (15 m) near its mouth. About 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, the Delta takes in its last major tributary, the 40-mile (64 km) long Jarvis Creek, which originates from Jarvis Glacier on the north face of the Alaska Range. The Delta River meets the Tanana River adjacent to the settlement of Big Delta, Alaska, which eventually drains into the Yukon River and thus the Bering Sea.
The water of the Delta River is extremely clear from its source to its confluence with Eureka Creek, after which it becomes more silty and fast-moving. Its broad flood plain is interrupted by various braided channels. It presents little flooding risk to communities along the river, as its western bank (on which no settlements are located) is lower than its east bank. However, lateral erosion along the eastern bank does pose a threat to homes and roads, prompting the installation of groynes (flow-regulating structures) along the bank by the early 1980s.
Large glaciers in the Alaska Range such as the Black Rapids Glacier, Canwell Glacier, and Castner Glacier run through the mountain valleys and drain into the Delta, as do various glacially-fed mountain streams.
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Delta River
The Delta River (Middle Tanana: Niithaayh Ndiige) is a river in eastern Alaska, United States. It is a tributary of the Tanana River, and by extension the Yukon. Originating from the Tangle Lakes, the river flows north through the Alaska Range, carving a valley perpendicular to the east-west mountain range. Initially clear and slow-moving, it becomes faster and silty after taking in Eureka Creek, its first major tributary. As it flows through the Alaska Range, it takes in meltwater from various glaciers and glacier-fed streams. At the end of its roughly 80-mile (130 km) course, the river meets the Tanana near the settlements of Big Delta and Delta Junction. The geology of the basin is highly complex, with various glacier-shaped landforms and alluvial deposits from the river. Dust from the river valley is spread by the wind and forms a layer of loess to the west of the river. The river basin is home to various birds, mammals (including caribou), and plants, while the water hosts fish such as northern pike and arctic grayling.
The uppermost portions of the Delta River basin are in the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District, containing over 600 documented archaeological sites, with the earliest occupation appearing to be from over 10,000 years ago. The Upper Tanana Athabaskans and the Ahtna both lived in the basin and hunted around it. In 1885, American army officer Henry Tureman Allen explored the river and named it for its braided water channels. Gold mining and road construction took place in the river valley during the early 1900s, followed by the construction of the Richardson Highway running parallel to the river. Agricultural development projects were made around the river during the 1970s and 1980s, although most of the river basin remains wilderness under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. A portion of the upper Delta River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1985.
The Delta River flows for about 80 mi (130 km) through central Alaska, flowing north through a pass in the Alaska Range to the Tanana River. The source of the river is Lower Tangle Lake, the lowest of the Tangle Lakes chain to the west of Paxson, Alaska.
From its source, the Delta flows at a low velocity for about 2 mi (3 km) north, through a series of small pools and riffles, before descending a 15 ft (4.6 m) waterfall. After this fall, the river narrows from 130 to 60 ft (40 to 18 m) in width and gains an increased velocity. About 4 mi (6 km) upstream from the falls, the river slows and widens again, splitting into several channels with sand and gravel bottoms. About another mile further upstream, it slows more, and widens to a channel about 100 ft (30 m) wide and 3 ft (1 m) deep.
About 10 mi (16 km) from its source, the Delta River receives its first major tributary along its western bank, Eureka Creek, which carries meltwater from various glaciers along the southern face of the Alaska Range. This is followed by various other minor tributary streams until its confluence with Phelan Creek 6 miles (10 km) upriver, which drains the Gulkana Glacier. After this, it enters a narrow pass running through the Alaska Range, and flows north through the mountains for about 13 miles (21 km), as it receives meltwater from glaciers and various steep mountain streams. Among the largest glaciers in the region, the Black Rapids Glacier, drains into the river at a site called Black Rapids. The average elevation of the river during this section is about 2,400 ft (730 m), flanked on either side by the adjacent mountains of the Alaska Range, which range in elevation from 6,000–9,000 ft (1,800–2,700 m) at their summits.
About 9 miles (14 km) after Black Rapids, the valley grows shallow, and the Delta runs through an expanse of glacial moraines for about 25 miles (40 km). After this, it flows through a wide stretch of glaciofluvial fans for the last 16 miles (26 km) of its course. At the beginning of this section, it lies in a valley that descends to up to 200 feet (60 m) beneath the surface of the fans, decreasing to about 50 feet (15 m) near its mouth. About 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, the Delta takes in its last major tributary, the 40-mile (64 km) long Jarvis Creek, which originates from Jarvis Glacier on the north face of the Alaska Range. The Delta River meets the Tanana River adjacent to the settlement of Big Delta, Alaska, which eventually drains into the Yukon River and thus the Bering Sea.
The water of the Delta River is extremely clear from its source to its confluence with Eureka Creek, after which it becomes more silty and fast-moving. Its broad flood plain is interrupted by various braided channels. It presents little flooding risk to communities along the river, as its western bank (on which no settlements are located) is lower than its east bank. However, lateral erosion along the eastern bank does pose a threat to homes and roads, prompting the installation of groynes (flow-regulating structures) along the bank by the early 1980s.
Large glaciers in the Alaska Range such as the Black Rapids Glacier, Canwell Glacier, and Castner Glacier run through the mountain valleys and drain into the Delta, as do various glacially-fed mountain streams.
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