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.



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.

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.

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.