The Kenai Peninsula ( Dena'ina : Yaghenen ) is a large peninsula jutting from the coast of Southcentral Alaska . The name Kenai ( / ˈ k iː n aɪ / , KEE -ny ) is derived from the word "Kenaitze" or "Kenaitze Indian Tribe", the name of the Native Athabascan Alaskan tribe, the Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina ("People along the Kahtnu (Kenai River) "), who historically inhabited the area. They called the Kenai Peninsula Yaghanen ("the good land").
8-589: The Resurrection River is a large river on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska . It rises near Upper Russian Lake in the Kenai Mountains and flows 22 miles (35 km) to empty into Resurrection Bay near Seward . Part of the river passes through Kenai Fjords National Park . There has been small-scale placer mining for gold at the confluence of the river and Placer Creek . Fishing for salmon
16-710: Is a major cruise ship port. The peninsula also has natural gas , petroleum , and coal deposits, as well as abundant commercial and personal-use fisheries. Tourism is a major industry, along with outfitting and guiding services for hunters and fishers. The Kenai Peninsula is known as "Alaska's Playground". Kenai National Wildlife Refuge encompasses nearly two million acres of the peninsula. 60°10′N 150°15′W / 60.167°N 150.250°W / 60.167; -150.250 Captain Cook State Recreation Area Too Many Requests If you report this error to
24-552: Is permitted in the lower Resurrection River. The river and bay it drains into have a very productive silver salmon fishery which peaks in August. Other notable fisheries in the river include minor runs of Chinook salmon and Sockeye salmon . This article related to a river in Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kenai Peninsula The peninsula extends about 150 miles (240 km) southwest from
32-618: The Chugach Mountains , south of Anchorage . It is separated from the mainland on the west by Cook Inlet and on the east by Prince William Sound . Most of the peninsula is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough . Athabaskan and Alutiiq Native groups lived on the peninsula for thousands of years prior to colonization during the Russian America era. The glacier -covered Kenai Mountains run along
40-688: The Russian River , the Kasilof River , and the Anchor River . Kachemak Bay , an inlet off the larger Cook Inlet , extends into the peninsula's southwest end, much of which is part of Kachemak Bay State Park . It is home to both the Sargent Icefield and Harding Icefields and the numerous glaciers assosciated with them, including Tustumena Glacier , Exit Glacier , and McCarty Glacier . The peninsula includes several of
48-944: The contiguous highway system. Seward is the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad . The Seward Highway connects Seward to Anchorage, while the Sterling Highway connects the large population centers to the Seward Highway. The Kenai Spur Highway connects Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Captain Cook State Recreation Area , Commercial airports with service to Anchorage are located in Kenai and Homer Smaller airports are located in Soldotna Seward and Seldovia The Alaska Marine Highway services Homer and Seldovia . Seward
56-588: The most populous towns in Southcentral Alaska, including Seward on the Gulf of Alaska Coast, Soldotna , Kenai , Sterling , and Cooper Landing along the Cook Inlet and Kenai River, and Homer , along Kachemak Bay, along with numerous smaller villages and settlements. Homer marks the terminus of the paved highway system of North America , while nearby Anchor Point is the most westerly point on
64-618: The southeast spine of the peninsula along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska . Much of the range is within Kenai Fjords National Park . The northwest coast along the Cook Inlet is flatter, dotted with numerous small lakes. Several larger lakes extend through the interior of the peninsula, including Skilak Lake and Tustumena Lake . Rivers include the Kenai River , renowned for king salmon fishing, and its tributary,
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