Cosna River (Alaska)

Cosna River
Location of the mouth of the Cosna River in Alaska
Native nameK'osno' (Lower Tanana)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
DistrictYukonKoyukuk 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, a century later linguist William Bright, citing the Koyukon Athabascan Dictionary, attributed the name to the Koyukon words kk' os, schist rock, combined with no', river.