Noatak River

{{Short description|River in the northwestern Alaska}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Noatak River | native_name ={{native name|ik|Nuataam Kuuŋa}} | name_other = | name_etymology =  | image = Noatak River.jpg | image_caption = Near the river mouth south of Noatak | image_size = 300 | map = | map_size = 300 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = USA Alaska | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the Noatak River in Alaska  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Alaska | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = District | subdivision_name4 = Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area, North Slope Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = {{convert|425|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/> | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|16600|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Benke"/> | discharge1_max =  | source1 = Schwatka Mountains, Brooks Range | source1_location = Gates of the Arctic National Park, Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area | source1_coordinates= {{coord|67|22|44|N|154|53|37|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis"/> | source1_elevation = {{convert|4156|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.</ref> | mouth = Hotham Inlet, Kotzebue Sound, Chukchi Sea | mouth_location = {{convert|7|mi|km}} north of Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|66|58|53|N|162|30|23|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis">{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = January 1, 2000| url = {{gnis3|1418960}} | title = Noatak River| access-date = September 15, 2013}}</ref> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/> | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|12600|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Benke">{{cite book|editor-last=Benke|editor-first=Arthur C.|editor2=Cushing, Colbert E.|title=Rivers of North America|location=Burlington, Massachusetts|publisher=Elsevier Academic Press|year=2005|page=[https://archive.org/details/riversofnorthame0000unse/page/932 932]|isbn=0-12-088253-1|url=https://archive.org/details/riversofnorthame0000unse/page/932}}</ref> | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = nwsr | designation1_type = Wild {{convert|330.0|mi|km}} | designation1_date = December 2, 1980<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rivers.gov/ |title=National Wild and Scenic Rivers System |website=rivers.gov |publisher=National Wild and Scenic Rivers System |access-date=2023-01-05}}</ref> | designation1_number = }} }}

The '''Noatak River''' ({{langx|ik|Nuataam Kuuŋa}}) (also '''Noatok''', '''Noatuk''', '''Nunatok''', or '''Notoark''')<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uakYAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA464 |title=Geographic Dictionary of Alaska |first=Marcus |last=Baker |date=1906 |page=464 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=2023-08-31}}</ref> is a river in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Alaska.<ref name="gnis"/>

==Description== The Noatak River's headwaters are on the north flank of Mount Igikpak in the Schwatka Mountains of the Brooks Range in the Gates of the Arctic National Park.<ref name="gnis"/> The Noatak flows generally westward for about {{convert|425|mi|km}} to the Chukchi Sea at Kotzebue Sound.<ref name="gnis"/>

The river's entire course is north of the Arctic Circle.<ref name="DeLorme">{{cite book|title=Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer|publisher=DeLorme|location=Yarmouth, Maine|page=132–36|edition=7th|year=2010|isbn=978-0-89933-289-5}}</ref> Leaving Gates of the Arctic National Park the river enters the Noatak National Preserve which exactly delineates the river's watershed. The entire watershed of the Noatak River lies within these two protected areas, from the headwaters to where it leaves the Noatak National Preserve, which is a point approximately 20 river miles upstream of Noatak village and 90 river miles upstream of the river's delta in Kotzebue Sound. Even on this last part of the river most of the watershed lies within either Noatak National Preserve or Cape Krusenstern National Monument, with only the immediate river valley outside of these protected areas.<ref>USGS 1:250,000 quads: Noatak, DeLong Mts., Baird Mountains, Ambler River, Misheguk Mountain, Howard Pass, Survey Pass</ref> The Noatak basin is the largest undisturbed watershed in the United States.<ref name="nature and science">{{cite web|title=Nature and Science|url=https://www.nps.gov/noat/learn/nature/index.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref> The Noatak National Preserve alone encompasses {{convert|6500000|acre|km2}}.<ref name="nature and science"/>

There are small inholdings of private land within the National Preserve, some of these have private cabins. The only permanent settlement along the Noatak River is the village of Noatak. The village has a {{convert|4000|ft|m|adj=on}} lighted public gravel airstrip, several small stores, post office, and a school.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.maniilaq.org/noatak.html |title=Maniilaq Association Noatak website |access-date=2007-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223091823/http://www.maniilaq.org/noatak.html |archive-date=2007-12-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Noatak is fed by a relatively large watershed: as for some other large braided Arctic rivercourses, rare severe rain events can result in temporary rapid inundation, to a depth of several feet, of normally dry river bars.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kane|first=D. L.|title=An Extreme Rainfall/Runoff Event in Arctic Alaska|journal=Journal of Hydrometeorology|year=2003|volume=4|issue=6|pages=1220–28|doi=10.1175/1525-7541(2003)004<1220:aereia>2.0.co;2|display-authors=etal|doi-access=free|bibcode=2003JHyMe...4.1220K }}</ref> There are a few small remnant glaciers in the Schwatka Mountains, their contribution to the water budget of the Noatak is negligible.

==Name origin== Named ''Inland River'' by surgeon John Simpson of the Royal Navy on a map he prepared in 1853, his wording appears to be a general translation of the Inuit name ''Nunulak'', according to the United States Geological Survey.<ref name="gnis"/> The name ''Nunatak'' could also mean "new land" or "belong to the land."<ref name="gnis"/>

=="Wild and Scenic" designation== On December 2, 1980, the {{convert|330|mi|km}} of the Noatak—from its source in Gates of the Arctic National Park to the Kelly River in the Noatak National Preserve—became part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.<ref>{{cite web|title=Noatak River, Alaska|url=http://www.rivers.gov/rivers/noatak.php|publisher=National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|access-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://science.nature.nps.gov/nrdata/quickoutput.cfm?statecode=ak&Parkcode=noat National Park Service photos]{{dead link|date=June 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Category:Rivers of North Slope Borough, Alaska Category:Rivers of Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska Category:Rivers of Alaska Category:Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States Category:Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Category:Brooks Range Category:Drainage basins of the Chukchi Sea