Tanana River
The Tanana River is a major tributary of the Yukon, flowing through central Alaska from the Alaska Range to the Yukon River. It sustains regional ecosystems and communities.
Learn More
Geography
| Address | Tanana River, Alaska, USAFairbanks to Yukon border |
|---|---|
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Alaska |
| Subregion | Arctic Coastal Plain |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| County | Fairbanks North Star Borough |
| District | Tanana Basin |
| City | Fairbanks |
| Timezone | AmericaAnchorage |
| Latitude | 64.25 |
| Longitude | -146.5 |
| Maps |
5:15 PM LOCAL TIMEThe Tanana River courses for approximately 610 miles (980 km) across central and interior Alaska, from the south near Mount Sanford in the Alaska Range to its confluence with the Yukon River. It drains a basin of about 7,800 sq km and supports a mix of freshwater habitats and floodplain forests. The river is central to regional Native cultures and modern towns such as Fairbanks, serving as a key transportation route in seasonal flows and winter ice. Flows fluctuate with seasonal snowmelt and rainfall, enabling activities from springtime salmon runs to winter ice crossings. The landscape along the Tanana varies from mountainous headwaters to prairie floodplains, offering diverse wildlife — including Oncorhynchus spp. (salmon), Anadromous fish and large mammals like moose and bears near its lower reaches. Scenic and practical, the river is central to regional life and a vital ecological corridor across Alaska’s interior.
All content was written by our AI and may contain a few mistakes. We may earn commissions on some links. Last updated: Sun Dec 14, 2025, 2:55 AM