Copper River (Alaska)
716438
226116625
2008-07-16T21:59:40Z
216.67.40.91
{{Infobox_River
| river_name = '''Copper River'''
| image_name = Chitina dipnet.jpg
| image_size = <!--Optional; defaults to 288 px-->
| caption = A fisherman (''bottom center'') dipnetting for salmon on the '''Copper River''' at [[Chitina, Alaska|Chitina]] in [[Southcentral Alaska]]
| origin = {{coor dms|62|10|39|N|143|49|05|W|region:US-AK_type:river_source:GNIS}} [[Copper Glacier]] on [[Mount Wrangell]]
| mouth = {{coor dms|60|23|19|N|144|57|39|W|region:US-AK_type:river_source:GNIS}} [[Copper Bay]] of [[Pacific Ocean]]
| basin_countries = [[United States of America]]
| length = {{convert|286|mi|km}}
| elevation = {{Unit ft|4380|0}}
| mouth_elevation = {{Unit ft|0|0}}
| discharge = {{convert|56000|cuft|m3}} per second at mouth
| watershed = {{convert|24400|sqmi|km2}}
}}
[[Image:Copper1.jpg|thumb|250px|Rafters and Child's Glacier on the lower '''Copper River''']]
[[Image:Copper2.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Sand dunes on the '''Copper River''']]
[[Image:Picea mariana taiga.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Black Spruce]] taiga along the '''Copper River''']]
The '''Copper River''' or '''Ahtna River''' is a river, approximately 300 mi (480 km) long, in south-central [[Alaska]] in the United States. It drains a large region of the [[Wrangell Mountains]] and [[Chugach Mountains]] into the [[Gulf of Alaska]]. It is known for its extensive [[river delta|delta]] [[ecosystem]], as well as for its prolific runs of wild [[salmon]], which are among the most highly prized stocks in the world. It is the 10<sup>th</sup> largest river in the United States, as ranked by average discharge volume at its mouth.<ref name = "USGS-LR" > {{cite web
| title = Largest Rivers in the United States
| publisher = [[USGS]]
| url = http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1987/ofr87-242/
| format = [[PDF]]
}}</ref>
==Description==
The Copper River rises out of the [[Copper Glacier]], which lies on the northeast side of [[Mount Wrangell]], in the [[Wrangell Mountains]], within [[Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park]]. It begins by flowing almost due north in a valley that lies on the east side of [[Mount Sanford (Alaska)|Mount Sanford]], and then turns west, forming the northwest edge of the [[Wrangell Mountains]] and separating them from the [[Mentasta Mountains]] to the northeast. It continues to turn southeast, through a wide marshy plain to [[Chitina, Alaska|Chitina]], where it is joined from the southeast by the [[Chitina River]]. The Copper River is 287 miles long. It drops an average of about 12 feet per mile, and drains a total of 24,000 square miles-an area the size of West Virginia. The river has 13 major tributaries and runs at an average of 7 miles per hour. It is a mile wide at the Copper River Delta, near Cordova. Downstream from its confluence with the Chitina it flows southwest, passing through a narrow glacier-lined gap in the [[Chugach Mountains]] east of [[Cordova Peak]]. There is an extensive area of sand dunes between the Copper and Bremner Rivers. Both Miles Glacier and Child's Glacier calve directly into the river. A road runs from Cordova to the lower Copper River near Child's Glacier, ending at the reconstructed "Million Dollar Bridge" across the river. The Copper enters the [[Gulf of Alaska]] approximately 50 mi (80 km) southeast of [[Cordova, Alaska|Cordova]].
The name of the river comes for the abundant [[copper]] deposits along the upper river that were used by [[Alaska Native]] population and then later by settlers from the [[Russian Empire]] and the United States. Extraction of the copper resources was rendered difficult by navigation difficulties at the river's mouth. The construction of the [[Copper River and Northwestern Railway]] from Cordova through the upper river valley in [[1908]]-[[1911]] allowed widespread extraction of the mineral resources, in particular from the [[Kennecott Mine]], discovered in [[1898]]. The mine was abandoned in [[1938]] and is now a [[ghost town]] tourist attraction.The [[Tok Cut-Off]] follows the Copper River Valley on the north side of the [[Chugach Mountains]].
The river's famous salmon runs arise from the use of the river watershed by over 2 million salmon each year for spawning. The extensive runs result in many unique varieties. The river's commercial salmon season is short: chinook (king) salmon are available Mid-May to Mid-June, sockeye (red) salmon mid-May to mid-August, and coho (silver) salmon mid-August to late-September. Sport, personal use and subsistence fisheries are open for salmon from mid-May through October. The fisheries are co-managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the USDA Forest Service Federal Subsistence Board. Management data are obtained primarily by ADF&G at the Miles Lake Sonar Station and the Native Village of Eyak at the Baird Canyon/ Canyon Creek research stations.
The Copper River Delta, which extends for 700,000 acres (2,800 km²) is the considered the largest contiguous [[wetlands]] along the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coast of [[North America]]. It is used annually by 16 million shorebirds, including the world's entire population of [[western sandpiper]]s. It is also home to the world's largest population of nesting [[trumpeter swan]]s and is the only known nesting site for the dusky [[Canada goose]].
Over 20,000 years ago, the area now drained by the great Copper River was a massive lake, covering 2,000 square miles.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
*Brabets, T.P. (1997). ''Geomorphology of the lower Copper River, Alaska'' [U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1581]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
==See also==
*[[List of Alaska rivers]]
==External links==
*[http://library.state.ak.us/asp/edocs/2007/04/ocn123246851.pdf Copper River salmon habitat management study / prepared for Ecotrust ; prepared by Marie E. Lowe of the Institute of Social and Economic Research] Hosted by [http://library.state.ak.us Alaska State Publications Program].
*[http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/crhome.php Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Copper River Salmon]
*[http://www.alaskagold.com/copper/mcarthy/mcarthy.html Ghost Town of the Kennecott Copper Mine]
*[http://www.aktrekking.com/2004/Copper/Copper1.html Packrafing Journey down the Copper River]
*[http://www.redzone.org/ Eyak Preservation Council]
*[http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/alaska/preserves/art11190.html Nature Conservancy: Copper River Delta]
*[http://www.copperriver.org/links.html The Copper River Watershed Project]
*[http://www.eyakfish.com NVE Fisheries Research and Seasonal Employment on the Copper River]
*[http://www.crsalmon.org Cordova District Fishermen United]
[[Category:Rivers of Alaska]]
[[Category:Salmon]]
[[Category:Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska]]
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