Fish River (Alaska)

The Fish River is a 47 mi. long river arising in the Bendeleben Mountains of the U.S. state of Alaska and flowing south to Golovnin Lagoon, then emptying into Golovnin Bay, Norton Sound, and the Bering Sea.

Its Inuit name was reported in 1838 as "Ikalikhvik" meaning "fish (or fish place)" by Kashevarof.

Various spellings were reported by Western Union Telegraph Expedition 1865-67. Dall (1870, p. 284) appears to be the first to have applied the name "Fish River" when he wrote: "Golofnina Bay is connected with a large lagoon which opens in Grantley Harbor by the extremely winding channel of the Fish River, which has one principal tributary, the Kavi-ava-zak." Dall's application heads the Fish River on what is now the Niukluk River.