Awuna River

Coordinates: 69°02′55″N 155°27′48″W / 69.04861°N 155.46333°W / 69.04861; -155.46333
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Awuna River
Awuna River is located in Alaska
Awuna River
Location of the mouth of the Awuna River in Alaska
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughNorth Slope
Physical characteristics
SourceSwamp north of Lookout Ridge
 • locationNational Petroleum Reserve
 • coordinates69°20′01″N 158°45′22″W / 69.33361°N 158.75611°W / 69.33361; -158.75611[1]
 • elevation1,202 ft (366 m)[2]
MouthColville River
 • location
West of Angoyakvik Pass, National Petroleum Reserve
 • coordinates
69°02′55″N 155°27′48″W / 69.04861°N 155.46333°W / 69.04861; -155.46333[1]
 • elevation
722 ft (220 m)[1]
Length200 mi (320 km)[1]

The Awuna River[pronunciation?] also called Sakvailak by the Iñupiat is a 200-mile (320 km) tributary of the Colville River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[1] Located entirely within the National Petroleum Reserve, it arises in a swamp north of Lookout Ridge in the North Slope Borough.[3] It flows generally east to meet the larger river west of Angoyakvik Pass.[3]

Etymology[edit]

The river's name Awuna means "westward" or Uwanmun. The name given to the river now by the Iñupiat is Sakvailak.[1][4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Awuna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  2. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. ^ a b Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2010. pp. 134–36. ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5.
  4. ^ Dictionary of Alaska Place Names