![]() ![]() 17 Below Discovery on Bonanza Creek near the spot where it ceased operations in 1960. One of the two dozen dredges that worked this area, Dredge No. Not long after gold was discovered in large quantities in the Klondike, dredges were brought into the Yukon, the first dredge being built in the fall of 1899. The newer/larger dredges like this one got to the bottom of the gravel and even a few feet into the bed rock - very profitable operation. This dredge operated from 1913 to 1960, was refurbished several times along the way, was all electric powered using power brought in via pole lines from a power plant in the area. Restoration of the dredge started in 1991 and tours are now offered. There once were two of them, built and operated by the same company. I visited Gold Dredge #4, the largest wooden dredge in North America. Parks Canada has acquired numerous things related to the gold rush and is refurbishing them and offering tours. There is also gold on "benches" up on the hillsides where a river bottom existed prior to the last ice age (or something like that), anyway historically they also used water cannon to wash the hillsides down (like was done in northern California) and now use bulldozers. The steam bottoms have been processed by hand and by dredges multiple times over the years. Near by is a claim that is open to the public for panning - a person can stay only three days. Most of the area is still covered by active mining claims - now using bulldozers and scoop shovels to process the ore. ![]() ![]() On August 6, 1998, I drove out to the site where gold was discovered that started the Klondike Gold Rush. ![]()
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