Kuskokwim River History and Facts

The Kuskokwim River, Alaska

River Length: 724 Miles long, making it the second longest river in the U.S. that runs within one state.

River History: This region of Alaska, like many others, thrived on fur trading and the fishing industry. In the early 1900's the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta was home to a gold rush which established many of the remaining small towns and villages that are located along its shoreline. A sparsely populated area, the Kuskokwim River is home to many Alaska Native Indians.

Weather: Winter in this region is snowy and cold, averaging about 10-12 degrees. The summers are beautiful and long; The average temperature in the summer months is around 50-55 degrees. This information is based on the weather averages for Bethel, Alaska a city located along the shoreline of the Kuskokwim River.

• Kuskokwim River hosts several settlements along its shoreline: Nikolai, Mcgrath, Crooked Creek, Aniak and Bethel are just a few of them.
• The Yukon - Kuskokwim Delta is largely populated by native Alaskan Indians.
• There is gold in the basin of the Kuskokwim River!
• The annual Iditarod Race passes along this beautiful river. A checkpoint along the trail is in the village of Nikolai.

Kuskokwim River Links: Additional information can be found on this river system at these informative websites:

NOAA