My Page Dedicated To The People Of Barrow

My Favorite Things About Barrow

• In Alaska
• Full of Squaws
• Good Weather

Before we start the section on Barrow, Alaska we would like to give you 101 facts about Alaska.

The sun doesn't set for eighty-four days (May 10 - August 2) in a row at Barrow, the farthest north community in the state. For 67 days in the winter (November 18 - January 24) the sun doesn't rise, but there is a beautiful twilight for a few hours during the "day" as the sun's rays peek around the curvature of the earth. Alaska was the 49th state admitted into the Union. Cable TV and satellite dishes aren't in every Alaska community, but we're working on it. Seals are cute, but they have razor-sharp little teeth. Alaska sustains about 1000 earthquakes measuring 3.5 or higher on the Richter scale every year. In 1964 an earthquake under Prince William Sound measured 9.2 on the Richter scale, killed 131 people, and released 10 million times more energy than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima Japan. Wal-Mart opened its first Alaska store in Anchorage in 1991. Oil production, mining, logging and fishing are key activities in the state. Watchdog groups like the Alaska Conservation Foundation work with industry to ensure protection of the state's natural resources. Taxes and royalties on North Slope oil production generate most of the state government's revenue. As Prudhoe Bay production declines, the state must find other sources of income. Most of the Alaska Highway is paved and the drive through our neighbor Canada is wonderful. More than 1 billion pounds of fish and shellfish were landed in Alaska in 1984. In 1994, that number jumped to more than 5 billion pounds. Killer whales are also called Orcas or SeaWolves. Possession of Alcohol is illegal in many rural Alaska communities. Vitus Bering claimed Alaska for Russia in 1741. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars or something like 2 cents an acre. Russia only occupied a small piece of land in Alaska, so the sale of the entire territory to America was stunning news to Native Alaskans, many of whom were not aware of the event for years. Compared to most places in the U.S., there really are very few roads in Alaska. So, finding a place to fish in the summer without flying into the Bush results in what the locals call "combat fishing." At some popular spots along the Russian River for example, scores of people line the banks for a chance at a king salmon. Charter companies that fly anglers to remote areas are quite popular. Hot news - 10% of the world's active volcanoes are located in Alaska. The Japanese held two Alaska islands - Attu and Kiska - for nearly a year during World War II. One in 45 Alaskans has a airplane pilot's license. Alaska's population increased 37% in the 1980's. With the help of experienced charter boat skippers, it is not uncommon for anglers to pull in halibut weighing over 300 pounds. Alaska moose are very big. When coming upon one, it is best to slowly back away and leave the area -- particularly when the moose is a cow with calves. Mama moose don't like people near their babies. In 1741 the Native Aleut population was about 14,000. In 1800, after contact with European diseases, the population dropped to less than 2,000. Today, there are over 10,000 Aleut living in Alaska. Most Alaskans install block heaters (and often battery blankets) in their cars, and plug them in at night to keep the fluids from freezing. At many public buildings and private company parking lots, multiple outlet posts are available to keep cars from freezing up. In the winter, most rental cars come with extension cords so that customers can plug in the block heaters. At approximately 90,000 square miles, the North Slope Borough is roughly the size of Minnesota. Just over 6,500 people live in 8 small villages across the North Slope. Barrow, at the top of the state, is the seat of government and home to 4,000 people. Trees grow shorter and shorter north of the Arctic Circle until they disappear entirely. However, during the endless summer hours of available sunlight, plants of all kinds produce traditional edible and medicinal leaves, roots and berries. Berries grow right on the ground and are easy to spot when they are ripe. Athabascan (or Athapaskan) healers burn small bundles of sage to purify sick rooms. Mastodon tusks are found with some regularity in Alaska. (Be aware of laws against hunting artifacts.) The oldest documented sight of human habitation in North America was found 150 miles above the Arctic Circle. It is called the Mesa Site and is 11,700 years old. Many Native Alaskans spend weeks in the summer at fish camps, storing food for the long winters. There are six semi-pro baseball teams in Alaska. Their season begins in June and ends in July. Native-owned corporations in Alaska are some of the most successful business ventures in the state. The Continental Divide in Alaska runs along the Brooks Range and divides water flow north (the Arctic Ocean) and south (the Bering Sea.) The Brooks Mountain Range is between 35 million and 200 million years older than the Rocky Mountains. The National Municipal League calls Alaska's Constitution "one of the best, if not the best, state constitutions ever written." Eskimo Ice Cream is a delicacy made from whipped berries, seal oil and snow. In Alaska, a "Cheechako" is a person new from the Outside. A Sourdough has spent a winter or two in the state. At the height of its output, the Prudhoe Bay oil fields produced 25% of the nation's domestic oil production. The Alyeska Pipeline is eight hundred miles long. The pipe holds about 9 million barrels of oil. It cost $8 billion. (That's a big pipe.) Pipeline construction began on April 29, 1974. The first barrels of North Slope crude oil reached port in Valdez on July 28, 1977. A popular bumper sticker in Alaska reads, "Please God, let there be another boom -- I promise not to (throw) it all away this time!" Grocery costs are higher in Alaska than in other states. They are a lot higher in rural Alaska. However, urban centers boast some of the finest grocery stores in the nation with fresh seafood bars, hot Chinese food to go, on-site bakeries, salad and soup bars, floral centers and 24-hour shopping. There is no poison ivy in Alaska - or snakes. There are plants called cow parsnips, though, which cause blisters and burns. Alaska has 33,904 miles of shoreline. One bear caught 90 salmon in one day in the McNeil River Game Sanctuary. There are eight National Parks in Alaska. Polar bears will sometimes use their paws to hide their big, black noses when sneaking up on a seal dinner. If you were to correctly guess, to the minute, the time of the Tanana River ice breakup in the town of Nenana, you would be something like $330,000 dollars richer (minus taxes) than you are right now. The +pot+ is different every year. The average temperature in Barrow is +9.4 degrees Fahrenheit (not taking into account the wind chill factor of course.) An adult polar bear weighs 1,500 pounds or more. They have really big claws and teeth. They love to eat seals. Grizzly bears usually weigh less than 1,000 pounds, but can weigh more. They also have really big claws and teeth. More than 90 people have been killed trying to climb Denali, otherwise known as Mt. McKinley - the tallest peak on the North American continent at 20,320 feet. Wild reptiles don't live in Alaska. The Russian Orthodox Church is a vital part of Native culture in southern Alaska. Smoked, chewy salmon is a popular winter staple for rural Alaskans. Alaska's state flag was designed by a seventh grader named Benny Bensen. It features the constellation "Big Dipper" on a field of blue. Alaska's official state fossil is from the woolly mammoth. Taiga, from a Russian word meaning 'land of little sticks', is the coniferous forest that begins where the tundra ends. A long distance telephone call between two points in rural Alaska can easily travel 100,000 miles before being connected. Alaska contains 129 million acres of forest. The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics is held every year in Fairbanks. Tug-of-War and maktak [muck-tuck] eating and the "ear pull" are among the contests. A tsunami (tidal wave) following the 1964 Anchorage earthquake completely destroyed or severely damaged several Alaska communities including Seward -- and caused damage in Hawaii, Chile, Japan, and the west coast of the U.S. Fifteen species of whale live in Alaska waters. The gray whale migrates more than 10,000 miles every year, between Baja California and the Beaufort Sea. Under the guidance of the International Whaling Commission, the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) headquartered at Barrow carefully manages subsistence hunting of the bowhead whale in the Arctic. The Inupiat (Eskimo) have depended on the bowhead for centuries. Preparations for the hunt go on all year and involve many people in the community. Whaling captains are held in high esteem. An umiaq [oom-ee-ack] is a skin boat used by Eskimos for centuries. It is made from the carefully prepared skin of Ugruk [oo-ga-rook] or bearded seals. The salmon derby is a popular event in many fishing communities during the summer months. Prizes are awarded for the biggest, smallest -- even ugliest -- fish. But to be eligible for prizes, participants must have purchased a Derby Ticket before catching the fish. The Exxon Corporation was fined more than $5 million in punitive damages for the 1989 Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound. Some of the money actually paid after the issue was dragged through the courts for years, is going toward building "The Alaska SeaLife Center" in Seward. It will be a state-of-the-art marine biology and education facility. The skeleton of a hadrosaur was found in the Talkeetna Mountains in 1994. The hadrosaur is thought to have had about 1,200 teeth. Locals say taking garlic tablets (with parsley) will keep summer mosquitoes at bay. Despite persistent myths, there is no longer any land available for homesteading in Alaska. Alaskans use regular, first-class U.S. stamps to mail letters like the rest of Americans. (You wouldn't believe how many people think Alaska is a "foreign" destination.) About 300 moose live in Anchorage. In the winter, when snow on surrounding mountains gets deep, that moose population can grow to 1000. KBRW, in Barrow, is the farthest north radio station in the United States. Come to think of it, the farthest north location of many things is at Barrow. In rural Alaska, snow machines and ATV's (all terrain vehicles), replaced dog teams in the 1960's, although mushing is still a popular sport in many areas. Those dogs live to run! Twenty Native languages are spoken in Alaska. There are 100 times more caribou than human residents on the North Slope. Alaska spends more money per person on public services than any other state in the nation, yet many residents in small rural villages do not have running water. Depending on the location, people depend on wells, use school facilities to shower, chop fresh-water ice or have water delivered by truck. Over two tons of living fungi reside on every acre of the arctic tundra, feeding on and decomposing dead organic matter. Since ice glaciers receded from the North Slope 12,000 years ago, a layer of peat 3 to 6 feet thick has accumulated on the tundra. The Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 turned over 44 million acres of land and $962 million to Alaska Natives as compensation for the loss of their historic homeland, which Russia sold to the United States. Capt. James Cook mapped much of the Arctic Coast during the summer of 1778. Valdez receives about 320 inches of snow a year. Barrow only gets about 28 inches of snow annually (but the wind piles it up and it doesn+t melt until June!) Ketchikan gets about 155 inches of rain a year. About 14 million acres of southern Alaska are rain forest. One of the focal points of Native social life in Alaska, the potlatch commemorates major events (weddings funerals, etc.) and involves singing, dancing, feasting and gift giving. The potlatch was frowned upon by early missionaries and then outlawed by the federal government in the 1880s. Potlatch restrictions were lifted in 1951. Stemming from the traditions borne of the Gold Rush days, gold nugget jewelry is still popular in Alaska. Approximately 26,455 billion cubic feet of natural gas is located underneath the North Slope. The current governor of Alaska is Tony Knowles. Fran Ulmer is Lieutenant Governor. Nuchalawoya, an Athabascan word meaning +where the great waters meet+, is a June festival held in the town of Tanana. William Egan, the first governor of Alaska, and Walter Hickel, the second governor of Alaska, both served two non-consecutive terms. No-see-ums are small, gray, silver-winged gnats that are, uh, ... hard to see. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a 3,350-foot long granite wall to protect Nome from the sea. Nome became the second largest city in Alaska in 1899, when 30,000 miners moved there in search of gold. Today it is the 14th largest town in Alaska - 3,618 people live in Nome, home of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Pilot Bread -- large round crackers approximately 5 inches in diameter -- is very popular in rural Alaska because it stores well for a long time. An impressive 974 inches of snow fell on Thompson pass in the winter of 1952-53. An equally impressive 332 inches of rain fell at Macleod Harbor in 1976. Mountain climbers who wish to challenge Mt. McKinley (Denali) must pay a $150 permit fee. Photographing the aurora borealis with ASA 400 film at f1.4 requires a 3-second exposure time. Normal or wide angle lenses work best. Anchorage residents and visitors enjoy paved bike paths and lighted ski trails throughout the city. A 36,000 year old Pleistocene Steppe bison mummy later to be named +Blue Babe" was found near Fairbanks in 1979. Sorry, folks -- if you want to see penguins, you'll have to go to Antarctica. But, we've got polar bears and they don't.

Map of Arctic Alaska

Barrow   Barrow, Alaska - 330 miles above the Arctic Circle - where the traditions of an age-old culture remain at the center of life in a modern world.   Welcome to Utkeagvik! Plan your trip to America's most northerly community in June when villagers celebrate Nalukataq, or the blanket toss festival, to mark the end of a successful whaling season. Travel to the Arctic in May, June and July when the lush tundra is alive with over 200 species of birds including snowy owls, jaegers, swans & Arctic terns. Birds are easy to see in the Arctic, where they nest on tufted mounds of tundra. Bird watchers travel to Barrow in droves every year. Tours are available. Visit us from November through May during the awe-inspiring twilight of winter or the sunwashed evening hours of spring and take dog sled rides across the sea ice, past icebergs the color of blue topaz . In December spend the holidays watching Eskimo games, traditional feats of skill and physical prowess developed long ago to prepare people for survival in the north. Bring in the new year at the edge of the Chukchi Sea, near the famed, towering whale bones, and bundle up to watch the annual fireworks display. In January and February catch Kivgiq, the Midwinter Festival - a three-day celebration of dance, song & bartering that brings villagers from across the North Slope, Russia and Canada together to renew family ties & share age-old traditions. According to tradition, this festival is not held every year.

 

<FONT SIZE="-1" COLOR="#FFFFFF">Play <A HREF="../realmedia/eskimo-dancing.ram">Eskimo Dancing performed at Kivgik</A></FONT>

In April come join the fun during Piuraagiaqta Spring Festival. Discover collections of Iņupiat Eskimo artifacts and crafts, tour the Will Rogers/Wiley Post crash monument about 13 miles outside Barrow. Learn how services like drinkable water and modern housing are provided in this remote land, where supplies must be flown or barged in. See traditional Eskimo Dancing, catch a glimpse of Arctic wildlife & learn about the ways of the whaling culture.   "Aarigaa!"  I like it!   Helpful Hints Weather in Barrow can change by the hour. Visitors should bring a jacket no matter the season. Be prepared for severe winter weather September through May. Pack a heavy coat, hat, gloves, warm boots and face covering. During breakup in the spring, birders who want to walk on the tundra should pack rubber boots. Tundra Tours Company provides parkas for visitors on their guided bus tours during the peak summer months of June, July and August. Summer temperatures in Barrow vary widely, but average about 40+ degrees Fahrenheit. The Arctic is a wild place. Depending on the season, visitors who venture out on the tundra or along the beach away from town may glimpse polar bears, Arctic fox, seals, gray whales, orcas or the great bowhead whale - the center of the Iņupiat culture. Use common sense and don't hike alone. For much of the year, shorefast ice covers the ocean for several miles away from Barrow. Tourists should never go out onto the ice alone, but should instead rely on guides with proper equipment & knowledge of the area. There are several types of tours available. Also, visitors can explore other North Slope villages using Barrow as the transportation center or "hub." Festivals like Kivgiq and Nalukataq are not "put on" for our tourists. These celebrations are important community events that are not always held on the same dates or even every year. Plan ahead to experience these unforgettable, ancient traditions. A word about artifacts:  The Iņupiaq people have lived on this land for thousands of years. There are many artifacts in the area that have yet to be recovered. Please respect the culture, obey the laws and refrain from digging for artifacts in and around Barrow. Instead, come see displays in town and learn about efforts to protect the Iņupiat heritage.   Transportation, Food & Lodging There are many restaurants in Barrow and several hotels. Rental cars and ATV's are available, too.   Additional Information Barrow is the economic, transportation and administration "hub" of the North Slope Borough. Located on the Chukchi Sea coast, Barrow is the northernmost community in the United States. Traditionally, the community is known as Ukpeagvik, which means "place to hunt snowy owls." Barrow was incorporated as a first-class city in 1959. Barrow takes its modern name from Point Barrow, named in 1825 by Captain Beechey of the Royal Navy for Sir John Barrow of the British Admiralty. Beechey was plotting the Arctic coastline of the North America at the time. An important historical site in the area is the Birnick archaeological site which contains 16 dwelling mounds of a culture believed to have existed between 500-900 A.D. The archaeological findings are considered to be a key link between the prehistoric cultures of Alaska and Canada. Another interesting site is the Cape Smythe Whaling and Tradition Station in nearby Browerville. Cape Smythe was built as a whaling station in 1893 and is the oldest frame building in the Arctic. During the 1940's and 1950's the military played an influential role in the area. Construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line and exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve brought new people to the region. During this same time, the Naval Arctic Research Lab (NARL) was built near Barrow. That facility is now the home of Ilisagvik College. Ilisagvik means "place to learn" in the Inupiaq language. Visitors to Barrow will arrive at the Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport. This airport was named to commemorate the famous pilot and American humorist who died in an airplane crash just 15 miles south of Barrow in 1935. Across from the airport sits the Will Rogers and Wiley Post Monument.   Population and Economy The largest city of the North Slope Borough, Barrow has 3,908 residents, of which approximately 60 percent are Inupiaq Eskimo. Although Barrow is a modern community, subsistence hunting, fishing and whaling are still very important to the local economy. Many residents who work full or part-time continue to hunt and fish for much of their food. Approximately one-third of the working population of 2,258 is employed in the private sector, mostly by Native corporations, the transportation/communications industry, the construction industry or in various other trades. Some residents work for oil companies at Prudhoe Bay. The Borough employs 48 percent of the work force and the North Slope Borough School District employs another 13.5 percent.   Quality of Life Most Barrow homes are heated by natural gas from nearby gas fields, and have modern water and sewer systems. Utilities are available through Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative, a local member-owned and operated cooperative, which offers electric power, natural gas, and water and sewer services. Two privately owned companies delivery water. The NSB provides trash pick-up free of charge. As the seat of the North Slope Borough, many regional health and social services are located in Barrow. Some of the public facilities include a senior citizen center, city teen center, women's shelter and family services center. Health care, public safety and fire protection are also provided.

 

<FONT SIZE="-1" COLOR="#FFFFFF">Play <A HREF="../realmedia/barrow-living.ram">This is what it's like in Barrow</A></FONT>

The community is served by seven churches, an elementary, middle and high school and Ilisagvik College. On evenings and weekends, the high school's swimming pool, weight room and gym are open to the public. Residents also use Barrow's recreation center, which boasts a gym, racquetball courts, weight room and sauna. Communications in Barrow include phone, mail, a public radio station, cable TV, fiber-optic and satellite two-way audio and video systems. The community also supports three hotels, several restaurants, a dry cleaners and a bank. Barrow has a couple of good-sized grocery/merchandise stores and several convenience stores. No liquor is sold since Barrow banned the sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. Major repair services include marine engine, boat, auto and aircraft mechanics. Diesel, propane, marine gas, aviation fuel, unleaded, regular and supreme gas are available for purchase. During the summer months, tour operators offer package tours of Barrow and the surrounding area. Visitors might be interested in purchasing arts and crafts such as baleen boats, etched baleen, carved ivory, masks, parkas and fur mittens. Barrow is served by passenger jet service from Anchorage. Freight arrives by barge in the summer and air cargo year-round.

Alaska Folks Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook