Blackhorse -> RE: Ruby, Alaska (9/8/2011 3:15:41 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Andrew Brown quote:
ORIGINAL: JeffK http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008772 The river mouth was known to Russian fur traders by 1831. The upper reaches were explored by HBC trader Robert Campbell, who explored the Pelly River and established a post at Fort Selkirk on the Yukon in 1848. John Bell of the HBC reached the river via the Porcupine River in 1846. For 3 months of the year, the Yukon is navigable from its mouth to WHITEHORSE (some 2860 km). Steamers plied the river in the 1860s, and there were at least 20 in service in 1900, at the height of the KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH Today the steamers are antique and the area is served by road and air. Good point about the seasonal factor. Gotta remember Alaska isn't in the tropics, after all :-) But I have no personal knowledge of the area (wish I did!!). So, I wonder if it is navigable for most of the year in its lower reaches? (and remembering that "navigable" for AE purposes means by ships up to 15,000 tons.) Andrew From my CHS research days I recall that the Yukon was definitely *not* navigable up to Whitehorse for 15,000 ton vessels. Small steamers only, and, as Jeff K. says, only for the Summer months.
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