Barrow, Alaska
Barrow is the
northernmost city in Alaska, 340 miles north of
the Arctic Circle, the largest municipal
government in the world, and the nation's
farthest northern community. With approximately
4,500 residents, the Barrow area is probably
the harshest polar location in Alaska. Barrow
has a large eskimo population and is frequently
visited by the polar bear. With its location above the Arctic cirle, the sun rises May 10th it does not set again until August 2nd. In the winter it does not rise from November 18th through January 24th.
Polar
Bears:
Polar bears live along shores and on sea ice in
the icy cold Arctic.
When sea ice forms over
the ocean in cold weather, many polar bears,
except pregnant females, head out onto the ice
to hunt seals. Polar bears have been spotted on
sea ice hundreds of miles from shore. When the
warm weather causes the sea ice to melt, polar
bears move back toward shore.
Polar bears primarily eat seals. Polar bears
often rest silently at a seal’s breathing
hole in the ice, waiting for a seal in the
water to surface. Once the seal comes up, the
bear will spring and sink its jagged teeth into
the seal’s head.
Sometimes the polar bear stalks its prey. It
may see a seal lying near its breathing hole
and slowly move toward it, then charge it,
biting its head or grabbing it with its massive
claws. A polar bear may also hunt by swimming
beneath the ice.
Natives:
A federally recognized tribe is located in the
community, the Native Village of Barrow;
Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope. 64% of
the population are Alaska Native or part
Native. The majority of residents are Inupiat
Eskimos. Traditional marine mammal hunts and
other subsistence practices are an active part
of the culture.
Whales:
Whales are a large part of the Barrow way of
life. Bowhead, gray, killer and beluga whales
migrate near Barrow every summer. Continuing an
ancient Inupiat tradition, an annual bowhead
whale hunt and festival is held every
spring.
History:
Before it was Barrow, it was known as
Utqiagvik. The name means "place where owls are
hunted" in Inupiat. Barrow takes its current
name from Point Barrow, which was named for Sir
John Barrow of the British Admirality in 1825.
British Navy officers were in the area to
explore and map the Arctic coastline of North
America. In 1935, the famous humorist Will
Rogers and pilot Wiley Post made a planned stop
15 miles south of Barrow on an air trip. After
they took off again, their plane stalled and
plunged into a river, killing them both. Two
monuments are located at the crash
site.
The residents of the area cast the lone vote in
opposition to passage of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, which passed in December
1971. In 1972, the North Slope Borough was
established. The borough used millions of
dollars in new revenues to create roads,
sanitation services, water and electrical
services and health and educational services in
the area.
Location:
On the Chukchi Sea coast, the community is
located 10 miles southwest of Point Barrow
which is the northernmost point of the United States; 725
air miles from Anchorage, 3 hours by jet via
Fairbanks.
Access:
Scheduled jet service from Anchorage and
Fairbanks, air taxi service.
Accomodations:
Four hotels (100+ rooms); six restaurants
(seating for 370). Food and most supplies,
Native arts and crafts. Book A Room
Here
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