Walker Lake (Northwest Arctic, Alaska)

For other uses, see Walker Lake (disambiguation).

Walker Lake
Walker Lake Walker Lake
Location	Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States
Coordinates	67°07′36″N 154°21′47″W
Primary outflows	Kobuk River
Basin countries	United States
Surface elevation	679 feet (207 m)
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated	1968

Walker Lake (Iñupiaq: Qalugluktuaq; Denaakk'e: Taah K'ehoolaanh) is the source of the Kobuk River in northwestern Alaska (emptying into Kotzebue Sound). The lake is located near the easternmost part of Northwest Arctic Borough, deep in the remote interior of northern Alaska. Explored during an expedition led by John C. Cantwell in 1885, under the authority of the Revenue Marine. Also known as "Big Fish Lake", Inupiaq legend in the area told of giant, ferocious fish that inhabited the waters. An attempt by a native with the Cantwell expedition to catch one of these giant fish involved a hook made of an entire set of reindeer antlers baited with a whole goose.

In 1968, Walker Lake, was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

Further reading

• Sherwood, M. (1965). Exploration of Alaska: 1865–1900. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

See also

• List of lakes of Alaska
• List of National Natural Landmarks
• List of reported lake monsters