Cosna River (Alaska)

Cosna River
Location of the mouth of the Cosna River in Alaska
Native nameK'osno' (Lower Tanana)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
DistrictYukon–Koyukuk Census Area
Physical characteristics
SourceBitzshtini Mountains
 • coordinates64°24′34″N 152°00′31″W / 64.40944°N 152.00861°W / 64.40944; -152.00861
 • elevation1,985 ft (605 m)
MouthTanana River
 • location
32 miles (51 km) northeast of Bitzshtini Mountains
 • coordinates
64°51′16″N 151°21′55″W / 64.85444°N 151.36528°W / 64.85444; -151.36528
 • elevation
249 ft (76 m)
Length44 mi (71 km)

The Cosna River (Lower Tanana: K'osno) is a 44-mile (71 km) tributary of the Tanana River in the central part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows northward from the Bitzshtini Mountains into the Tanana west (downstream) of Manley Hot Springs.

In 1899, Lieutenant J. S. Herron attributed the name to the Tanana peoples living in the area. However linguist William Bright, citing the Koyukon Athabascan Dictionary a century later, attributed the name to the Koyukon words kk'os, schist rock, combined with no', river.