Draanjik River

The Draanjik or Black River is a river in eastern Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. It flows generally northwest 160 miles (260 km) from its source to its mouth on the Black River Slough of the Porcupine River near the city of Fort Yukon.[1] In January 2014, the Alaska Historical Commission voted to rename the river to Draanjik, its Gwich'in name, a decision which later found approval by the Board of Geographic Names.[3][4]

Draanjik River
Aerial view of the Draanjik River
Location of the mouth of the Black River in Alaska
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
Census AreaYukon–Koyukuk
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates65°33′33″N 141°51′19″W[1]
 • elevation2,356 ft (718 m)[2]
MouthBlack River Slough, Porcupine River
 • location
16 miles (26 km) northeast of Fort Yukon, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge
 • coordinates
66°39′51″N 144°43′40″W[1]
 • elevation
440 ft (130 m)[1]
Length160 mi (260 km)[1]

The local Gwich'in name for the river is "Draanjik," which translates as "Caches Along The River." The river gives its name to the Draanjik Gwich'in of Chalkyitsik.

The river has borne several other names: Big Black River (in order to distinguish it from similarly named streams), Orange Creek, Salmon Fork, Salmon River, Squirrel Creek, and Squirrel River. The Board on Geographic Names officially ruled in favor of "Black River" in 1959.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Black River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  2. Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
  3. Alaska State Parks, Heritage newsletter, January 2014
  4. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150901-renaming-mountains-denali-rainier-helens-harney-devils-tower/



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