BARROW
ALASKA
BARROW ALASKA INFORMATION
copyrights and photographs owned by
the King Eider Inn of 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.
copyrights and photograph owned by
Alaskan Arctic Adventures
The Bad Boys of Point Barrow.
North Slope Borough wildlife includes polar bears, grizzly bears, arctic
foxes, red foxes, caribou, moose, snowy owls, wolves, whales, beaver, Dall
sheep, bowhead whales, bearded seals, ringed seals, and spotted seals.
copyrights and photograph owned by
Larry Moen
This small community is much like other locations within Alaska with no roads
connecting it to other communities.
copyrights and photograph owned by
Larry Moen
Airlines provide the main mode of transportation to Barrow with flights
from Anchorage and Fairbanks.
copyrights and photograph owned
by Larry Moen
Of course there is the more traditional dog sled method as
well.
copyrights and photograph owned by
Larry Moen
Barrow is one of the world's largest Eskimo settlements where traditional
culture and modern life are blended. North Slope oil discovery has brought
wealth to the area, including modern influences such as snowmobiles. Most
homes are heated by natural gas from nearby gas fields. There are community
electric, water and sewer systems, a public radio station and cable TV
facilities.
All copyrights to this image belong the original
owner. If you have any information about ownership of this image, please
e-mail us.
Click the speaker below to hear...
A
Roaring
Polar
Bear Welcome!
copyrights and photograph owned by
Larry Moen
For 82 days the sun rises and never sets between May 10th to August 2nd and
from November 18th through January 24th the sun never rises above the skyline.
Archaeological sites in the area indicate the Inupiat Eskimos lived as far back as 500 A.D. at Ukpeagvik, as Barrow is traditionally known. The name means "place where owls are hunted." Archaeologists have identified remains of 16 dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture still in evidence today.
Barrow takes its name from Pt. Barrow, which was named for Sir. John Barrow of the British Admiralty in 1825. British Navy officers were in the area to plot the Arctic coastline of North America. The U.S. Army established a meteorological and magnetic research station at Barrow in 1881, and the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was established in 1893.
By 1888, a Presbyterian Church had been built, and in 1901 a post office opened. At the Presbyterian Church in 1906 the famed explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson measured the heads of all the Eskimo people in Barrow. Stefansson, who was thereafter known as "Head Measure," returned for more exploration in 1914.
All copyrights to this image belong the original
owner. If you have any information about ownership of this image, please
e-mail us.
The Will Rogers and Wiley Post Monument, across from the state-owned Wiley
Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport, was dedicated in 1982 to commemorate the
1935 plane crash that killed the humorist and the famous pilot. After a planned
stop 15 miles south of Barrow, Post and Rogers took off again, but their
plane stalled and plunged into a river, killing them both. Two monuments
now on the National Register of Historic Places are located at the crash
site. The monument pictured above is not at the crash site and is located
across from Barrow's Wiley Post and Will Rogers Memorial Airport.
BARROW EVENTS
In early October the Fall whaling season begins.
The sun never rises for 51 days between November 18th and January 24th. If it's not cloudy and the stars are out there's a great chance for viewing of the northern lights.
copyrights and photograph owned by
Larry Moen
Click on the picture
above to produce an aurora borealis forecast map.
The following aurora images were taken by Dick Hutchinson © in Circle Alaska. He has a fantastic website with lots of aurora images as well as information on northern lights photography.
copyrights and ownership of the above
four photographs is by Dick Hutchinson ©
The aurora borealis is always present, but for most people it rarely stretches
far enough south for them to see. It is most often seen overhead in Barrow
Alaska between about 10 PM and 2 AM during the winter months.
copyrights and ownership of the above
image is by Dick Hutchinson ©
If a bright display occurs early in the evening, there's a chance that another
display will follow a few hours later.
copyrights and photograph owned by
Larry Moen
Every year the Eskimo games take place in December and New Years Eve is rung
in at midnight with a fabulous firework display over the frozen Chukchi
Sea.
On certain years the MidWinter Festival Kivgiq is held in February.
Piuraagiagta, is a weeklong spring festival held each year in April.
copyrights and photograph owned by
the King Eider Inn of Barrow Alaska
Spring whaling takes place in May and villagers celebrate Nalukataq in June
and early July to note the end of whaling season. Each successful whaling
team holds a Nalukataq celebration.
Many bird watchers travel to Barrow during this period to view some of the 250 plus bird species located in the area. Barrow is one of the top 5 birding spots in Alaska and the annual visitors to Barrow are spectacular. All four species of Eider ducks migrate along the coast and nest in the tundra around Barrow. Numerous other ducks and waterfowl also nest in the millions of small puddles and lakes across the tundra. Barrow is also prime habitat for many shorebirds. Perhaps the most spectacular summer visitor and breeder is the snowy owl, from which comes the Inupiat name for Barrow, Ukpeagvik, which translates to "place to hunt snowy owls".
Check out our king eider and birding page.
BARROW
LINKS
Barrow Community
Overview
Forbes
Magazine Article on Barrow
Alaska Business Monthly
Article
Alaska Airlines
Site
Alaska
Trip Planner
Arctic Tours In
Barrow
Arctic Slope Telephone
Association
Barrow
Alaska Article
Barrow
Climatology
Barrow
Birding Article
Barrow Birding
Center
Barrow
Community Directory
Barrow Community
Overview
Barrow
Economy, Employment & Income
Barrow
Facilities, Utilities & Services
Barrow
2000 Census Population
BARROW HOTEL
ACCOMODATIONS
Alaska HotelsMotels
- a Travel and Tourism guide for Alaska
Barrow - I Love
Alaska!
Field Guides - Alaska
Birding Tours
High Lonesome Ecotours
of Barrow
Inupiat Heritage
Center
Inupiat
of Arctic Alaska
Journey
North - Barrow Information
KBRW - Public
Radio
KING EIDER INN of BARROW
ALASKA
KING EIDERS &
BIRDING
Outside
Magazine Article on Barrow
Northern Alaska
Tours - Barrow
NWS
Current Barrow Weather Conditions
Wiley Post-Will Rogers
Memorial Airport
Places
to Stay in the Far North
Photographer
Jeffrey Sward's - Barrow
Visit
SunJam
Studios - Authentic Alaskan Artwork
United States
Alaska Guide
OTHER TRAVEL
LINKS
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webmaster: EIDER@BARROW.COM
Site Was Last Updated on 06/10/05
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