Klondike River

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Klondike River
Klondike River crossing Dempster Highway 1.JPG
Klondike River crossing Dempster Highway (upstream)
Country Canada
Territory Yukon
Source Ogilvie Mountains
Mouth Yukon River
 - location Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
 - coordinates 64°03′08″N 139°26′27″W / 64.05222°N 139.44083°W / 64.05222; -139.44083Coordinates: 64°03′08″N 139°26′27″W / 64.05222°N 139.44083°W / 64.05222; -139.44083
Length 160 km (99 mi)
[1][2]

The Klondike River is a tributary of the Yukon River in Canada that gave its name to the Klondike Gold Rush. The Klondike River has its source in the Ogilvie Mountains and flows into the Yukon River at Dawson City.

Its name comes from the Hän word Tr'ondëk (/ʈʂʼontək/) meaning hammerstone, which were used to hammer down stakes used to set salmon nets.

Gold was discovered in tributaries of the Klondike River in 1896 which started the Klondike gold rush, and is still being mined today.

In Jack London's story "A Relic of the Pliocene" (Collier's Weekly, 1901), this river was mentioned as "Reindeer River". (See Reindeer Lake.)

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References[edit]

  1. ^ "Klondike River". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  2. ^ "Klondike River". Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 5 March 2010.