The Twentymile River is a river near the
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula ( Dena'ina: ''Yaghenen'') is a large peninsula jutting from the coast of Southcentral Alaska. The name Kenai (, ) is derived from the word "Kenaitze" or "Kenaitze Indian Tribe", the name of the Native Athabascan Alaskan tribe ...
in
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
. It rises in a remote valley from meltwater of several small glaciers on
Whitecrown in the
Chugach Mountains
The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnag ...
and flows out into a large, wide valley where it receives the water of the Moraine and
Glacier
A glacier (; or ) is a persistent body of dense ice, a form of rock, that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires ...
rivers. Eventually, the river empties into
Turnagain Arm
Turnagain Arm (DenaŹ¼ina language, Dena'ina: ''Tutl'uh'') is a waterway into the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska. It is one of two narrow branches at the north end of Cook Inlet, the other being Knik Arm. Turnagain is subject to climate e ...
after flowing to a broad marshy delta alongside the deltas of Portage Creek and the Placer River. Contrary to popular belief, the source of the river is not Twentymile Glacier.
This river is known locally for its large runs of
smelt (hooligan) every summer during the month of May. Many people from Anchorage go there to dipnet for them. It also has some small salmon runs.
References
Rivers of Alaska
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