Bonanza Creek

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Bonanza Creek
Discovery Claim Bonanza Creek.jpg
Discovery Claim on Bonanza Creek, August 2009
Native nameCh'ö`chozhù' ndek  (Hän)
Location
CountryCanada
TerritoryYukon
Physical characteristics
SourceKing Solomon's Dome
MouthKlondike River
 • coordinates
64°02′31″N 139°25′20″W / 64.04194°N 139.42222°W / 64.04194; -139.42222Coordinates: 64°02′31″N 139°25′20″W / 64.04194°N 139.42222°W / 64.04194; -139.42222
Length32 km (20 mi)[1]
Official nameDredge No. 4 National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1997
Official nameDiscovery Claim (Claim 37903) National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1998

Bonanza Creek (Hän: Ch'ö`chozhù' ndek) is a watercourse in Yukon Territory, Canada.[2] It runs for about 20 miles (32 km) from King Solomon's Dome to the Klondike River. In the last years of the 19th century and the early 20th century, Bonanza Creek was the centre of the Klondike Gold Rush, which attracted tens of thousands of prospectors to the creek and the area surrounding it. Prior to 1896 the creek was known as Rabbit Creek. Its name was changed by miners in honour of the millions of dollars in gold found in and around the creek.[3]

During gold-mining operations, the course of the creek changed drastically. It was heavily developed during the early 20th century, but was largely abandoned by the 1950s. A handful of small gold-mining operations continue on the creek, but today it is best known for its historic value. Two National Historic Sites of Canada have been designated along the creek:

  • The "Discovery Claim (Claim 37903)", a mining claim on Bonanza Creek where the Klondike Gold Rush began, the discovery of which marked the beginning of the development of the Yukon;[4] and
  • "Dredge No. 4", a preserved bucketline sluice dredge used to mine placer gold and which symbolizes the importance of dredging operations to the evolution of gold mining in the Klondike.[5][6]

Gallery[]

  • Discovery Claim at Bonanza Creek

  • Gold panning at Bonanza Creek

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Bonanza Creek". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 5 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Bonanza Creek". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  3. ^ Tourism Yukon. "Skookum Jim Mason" Archived December 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Travelyukon.com. 2008. Accessed May 12, 2009.
  4. ^ Discovery Claim (Claim 37903). Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  5. ^ Dredge No. 4. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  6. ^ Parks Canada. "Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site of Canada" Archived 2007-04-18 at the Wayback Machine, pc.gc.ca. November 28, 2008. Accessed May 12, 2009.
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