Draanjik River

The Draanjik or Black River is a river in eastern Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. It flows generally northwest 160 miles (260 km) from its source to its mouth on the Black River Slough of the Porcupine River near the city of Fort Yukon.[1] In January 2014, the Alaska Historical Commission voted to rename the river to Draanjik, its Gwich'in name, a decision which later found approval by the Board of Geographic Names.[3][4]

Draanjik River
Aerial view of the Draanjik River
Location of the mouth of the Black River in Alaska
Location
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Census Area	Yukon–Koyukuk
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	65°33′33″N 141°51′19″W[1]
• elevation	2,356 ft (718 m)[2]
Mouth	Black River Slough, Porcupine River
• location	16 miles (26 km) northeast of Fort Yukon, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge
• coordinates	66°39′51″N 144°43′40″W[1]
• elevation	440 ft (130 m)[1]
Length	160 mi (260 km)[1]

The local Gwich'in name for the river is "Draanjik," which translates as "Caches Along The River." The river gives its name to the Draanjik Gwich'in of Chalkyitsik.

The river has borne several other names: Big Black River (in order to distinguish it from similarly named streams), Orange Creek, Salmon Fork, Salmon River, Squirrel Creek, and Squirrel River. The Board on Geographic Names officially ruled in favor of "Black River" in 1959.[1]