Yakoun River
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| Yakoun River | |
|---|---|
  Mouth of the Yakoun River | |
| Native name | Yaaguun G̱andlee (Haida) |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Haida Gwaii |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Yakoun Lake |
| • location | Graham Island |
| • coordinates | 53°20′27″N 132°15′16″W / 53.34083°N 132.25444°W[1] |
| • elevation | 103 m (338 ft)[2] |
| Mouth | Masset Inlet |
• location | Yakoun Bay |
• coordinates | 53°39′28″N 132°12′27″W / 53.65778°N 132.20750°W[3][2] |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft)[3][2] |
| Length | 58 km (36 mi)[4] |
| Basin size | 569 km2 (220 sq mi),[5] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 32.632 m3/s (1,152.4 cu ft/s)[5] |
| Basin features | |
| Topo maps | NTS 103F9 Port Clements NTS 103F8 Yakoun Lake |
The Yakoun River (Haida: Yaaguun G̱andlee[6]) is the largest river of Haida Gwaii, in the province of British Columbia, Canada.[3] Located on Graham Island it flows about 58 km (36 mi)[4] from Yakoun Lake north to Masset Inlet, a large saltwater bay located in the heart of the Graham Island and connected to the Pacific Ocean at Dixon Entrance via a long narrow inlet called Masset Sound.
The Yakoun River's watershed covers 550 km2 (210 sq mi),[5] and its mean annual discharge is an estimated 32.6 m3/s (1,150 cu ft/s).[5] The mouth of the Yakoun River is located about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of Port Clements, 40 km (25 mi) south of Masset, and about 46 km (29 mi) north of Skidegate. It is about 145 km (90 mi) west of Prince Rupert on the mainland. Vancouver is about 800 km (500 mi) to the southeast.[2] The river's watershed's land cover is classified as 63.4% conifer forest, 22.5% shrubland, and small amounts of other cover.[5]
The Yakoun River is located on Graham Island, the northernmost and largest island of the Haida Gwaii archipelago. The river originates at Yakoun Lake,[7] in south-central Graham Island, just north of Slatechuck Mountain and Skidegate Channel. A number of small streams flow into Yakoun Lake, including Delta Creek, Sandstone Creek, Baddeck Creek, and Etheline Creek. Yakoun Lake and its watershed is in the Yaaguun Suu Conservancy.[8][9][10]
The Yakoun River exits Yakoun Lake and flows generally north along a twisting path. It collects the tributary streams Brent Creek, Phantom Creek, Ghost Creek, Wilson Creek, King Creek, Drill Creek, Gold Creek, Canyon Creek, Blackbear Creek, Log Crek, Canoe Creek, and Florence Creek. As the river nears its mouth at Masset Inlet it enters the Yaaguun G̱andlaay Conservancy.[11][12][13] It empties into Yakoun Bay, a small bay at the southeast end of Masset Inlet, a large saltwater bay located in the heart of the Graham Island.[14]
An estuary at the mouth of Yakoun River serves as habitat for all coastal Pacific salmon species as well as cutthroat and steelhead trout.[13]