The natural region within the Alaskan territory is a broad upland through which the Yukon River flows to the Bering Sea. This river rises in Canadian territory. It is over 2,000 miles long, and about 1,500 miles of its course is in Alaska. The chief highway of travel in the interior of Alaska is the Yukon River. During the summer large steamers like those on the Mississippi River come from St. Michael upstream as far as Dawson. Some go up the Tanana to a point near Fairbanks. When winter comes the river freezes over; but it continues to be the highway of travel, for during that season dog sleds are used and with the help of the dogs there is a regular winter delivery of United States mail through this vast land.
