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| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Alsek River 59°28′44″N 137°45′56″W / 59.47894°N 137.76555°W / 59.47894; -137.76555 (Tatshenshini River mouth) |
| • elevation | Template:M to ft |
The Tatshenshini River ("Shäwshe Chù" in Southern Tutchone) is a river in the southwestern Yukon and the northwestern corner of British Columbia. It originates in British Columbia, near Haines Highway. It flows north into Yukon, then it turns west and south before itreturns into British Columbia, where it flows through the Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Wilderness Park. There it joins the Alsek River, which then flows in the Pacific Ocean in Alaska. It is a very popular river for wilderness rafting trips.
History
Although this river was used as a vital trade route by First Nations, in particular the coastal Tlingit people, the first Europeans to travel the Tatshenshini River were Jack Dalton and Edward Glave, accompanied by two native guides. After successfully navigating the River, Dalton established a trading post near the top of the Tatshenini, which flourished during the Klondike Gold Rush.
It was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 2004.
Etymology
Prior to 1891, the name Tatshenshini did not apply to the present-day Tatshenshini River. Instead, the name applied to the present-day Blanchard River, which is a tributary of the present-day Tatshenshini River. In 1891, the Canadian government reassigned the name from the present-day Blanchard River to the present-day Tatshenshini River.
The name Tatshenshini is derived from a Tlingit phrase of unrecorded meaning. However, the original phrase appears to have been t’áchán shahéeni, meaning river with stinking chinook (king) salmon at its headwaters (t’á + chán + sha + héen + i ).
Chinook (king) salmon run up the present-day Tatshenshini River to the present-day Blanchard River (the original Tatshenshini River) and, thence, up the Blanchard River. At the headwaters of the Blanchard River, the salmon die, and their carcasses stink.
See also
References
- Canadian Heritage River. "Tatshenshini River". Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- Davidson, George (1995). The Kohklux Map. Yukon Historical & Museums Assn., at pp. 15, 18-19 (Ta-tchan-seena).
- Krause, Aurel (1956). The Tlingit Indians. University of Washington Press., at page 253 (Tatschants-hīni).
- Twitchell, Lance A. (2005). Lingít Dictionary. Troubled Raven Productions., at pp. i (i=possessed noun suffix), 1-6 (chán), 1-24 (héen), 1-40 (shá), 1-44 (t’á), 2-27 (head of), 2-46 (river), 2-47 (chinook salmon), 2-56 (stink). Since a stink (chán) is always created by something, no possessed noun suffix is needed for chán.
- Warning: Bears are known to patrol the Blanchard River for running salmon.
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