Tatshenshini River

Tatshenshini River
O'Connor Creek delta in the Tatshenshini River in British Columbia
Country	Canada
Basin features
Main source	DatlasakaCreek 910 m (2,990 ft) 59°50′30″N 136°39′38″W / 59.84167°N 136.66066°W / 59.84167; -136.66066 (Tatshenshini River origin)
River mouth	Alsek River 120 m (390 ft) 59°28′44″N 137°45′56″W / 59.47894°N 137.76555°W / 59.47894; -137.76555 (Tatshenshini River mouth)Coordinates: 59°28′44″N 137°45′56″W / 59.47894°N 137.76555°W / 59.47894; -137.76555 (Tatshenshini River mouth)

The Tatshenshini River (/ˌtætʃɛnˈʃini/; Tlingit Tʼachanshahéeni, Southern Tutchone Shäwshe Chù) is a river in the southwestern Yukon and the northwestern corner of British Columbia, Canada. It originates in British Columbia, near Haines Highway. It flows north into Yukon, then it turns west and south before it returns into British Columbia, where it flows through the Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Wilderness Park. There it joins the Alsek River, which then flows in the Pacific Ocean in Alaska, United States. It is popular for wilderness rafting trips.

Although this river was used as a vital trade route by First Nations, in particular the coastal Tlingit people, the first Europeans to travel the present-day Tatshenshini River were Jack Dalton and Edward Glave in 1890, accompanied by two native guides. Prior to 1891, the present-day Tatshenshini River was considered to be the upper Alsek River. (At that time, the present-day upper Alsek River was considered to be the lower Kaskawulsh River.) In or about 1891, the present-day Tatshenshini River (pre-1891 upper Alsek River) was assigned the name Tatshenshini by the Canadian government, and the pre-1891 lower Kaskawulsh River became the present-day upper Alsek River.

About 1897, Jack Dalton established a trading post near the location where the present-day Tatshenini begins to flow westward. This trading post flourished during the Klondike Gold Rush. Today, the site of Dalton's trading post is a popular location for salmon fishermen, and it is the launch point for rafting trips on the Tatshenshini River. The Tatshenshini River was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 2004.