| Chilkoot Lake | |
|---|---|
 Looking up the Chilkoot River valley and at Chilkoot Lake from the Takshanuk Mountains | |
  Chilkoot Lake  Chilkoot Lake | |
| Location | Haines Borough, Alaska, United States |
| Coordinates | 59°21′11″N 135°35′38″W / 59.35306°N 135.59389°W |
| Primary inflows | Chilkoot River |
| Primary outflows | Chilkoot River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 3.6 miles (6 km) |
| Surface elevation | 30 feet (9 m)[1] |
| References | [1] |
The Chilkoot Lake, in the Tlingit Indians region of Alaska, is also spelt Chilcoot Lake. Its other local names are the Akha Lake and Tschilkut S(ee), meaning "Chilkoot Lake". It is in Haines Borough, Alaska. Chilkoot also means "big fish". The lake has a ‘Recreation Site’ at its southern end near the outlet to the Chilkoot River, which is set amidst the Sitka spruce trees. Chilkoot River flows from the lake for a short length and debouches into the Lutak Channel at the head of the Chilkoot inlet near Haines.[1][2][3][4] Chilkoot village, a settlement of Chilkoot Indians existed at the outlet of the lake, which was called Tschilkut or Tananel or Chilcoot; the lake is named after this village. This village is now a camping area developed by the State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.[5][6] The lake is a popular location for Kayaking.[2][7]
The Lake, approached from the park area, offers one of the best red salmon fishing locations in Southeast Alaska. Salmon fishing in the lake during the spawning period is done in four runs starting with mid-June and ending in mid-October when it is also the time for Bears to frequent the lake precincts to hunt for its favorite salmons.[3] The Chilkoot Lake's commercial fishing of Sockeye salmon is worth about $1 million annually.[8]
- ^ a b c "Feature Detail Report for: Chilkoot Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Howard, Jim (1999). Guide to Sea Kayaking in Southeast Alaska: The Best Day Trips and Tours from Misty Fjords to Glacier Bay. Globe Pequot. pp. 104–106. ISBN 0-7627-0409-8.
- ^ a b "Chilkoot Lake State Recreational Site (Haines Region)". Alaska State Parks: Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Chilkoot Lake Fishing in Haines County, Alaska, Skagway B-2 Area". Fishing Works:University of Phoenix. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ Bulletin, Issues 297-299. Geological Survey (U.S.): G.P.O. 1906. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- ^ "Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site – Haines, Alaska". RVinsurance. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Chilkoot River Watershed". Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation. Archived from the original on 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- ^ "Chilkoot Watershed Coalition:Sustainable Wild Salmon/Sustainable Communities". Chilkoot Watershed Coalition. Retrieved 2010-07-19.