Barrow, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Barrow (Inupiaq
Utqiaġvik or Ukpiaġvik ) is the largest city of the North Slope Borough
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It is one of the northernmost cities
in the world and is the northernmost city in the United States of America
, with nearby Point Barrow
being the nation's northernmost point. Barrow's population was 4,212 at the 2010 census. The city was named after Sir John Barrow
.
in 1825 for Sir John Barrow
of the British Admiralty
. The location has been home to Native Inupiat Eskimo
people for over 1,000 years under the name Ukpeagvik or "place where snowy owls are hunted".
on dry (though uninhabited) land. The antipode is in Antarctica at 71°17′44"S 23°14′1"E. Barrow is roughly 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) south of the North Pole
. Only 5.3% of the Earth's surface lies as far from the Equator as Barrow.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 21 sq mi (54.4 km²). 18 sq mi (46.6 km²) of it is land and 3 sq mi (8 km²) of it is water. The total area is 14% water. The predominant land type in Barrow is tundra
, which sits on permafrost
that is as much as 1300 foot in depth.
Barrow is surrounded by the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska
.
Owing to its location 320 miles (515 km) north of the Arctic Circle
, Barrow's climate is cold and dry, and is classified as a polar climate
. Winter weather can be extremely dangerous because of the combination of cold and wind, while summers are cool even at their warmest. Weather observations are available for Barrow dating back to the late 19th century. Currently there is a National Weather Service
(NWS) Office and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Climate Monitoring Lab in Barrow. The United States Department of Energy
(DOE) also has a climate observation site in Barrow as part of its Atmospheric Radiation Measurement
(ARM) Climate Research Facility.
Despite the extreme northern location, temperatures at Barrow are moderated by the surrounding topography
. The Arctic Ocean
is on three sides, and flat tundra stretches some 200 mile to the south. Thus, there are no wind barriers, and there are no protected valleys where dense cold air can settle or form temperature inversions
in the lower atmosphere in the way that commonly happens in the Interior between the Brooks Range
and the Alaska Range
.
Nonetheless, Barrow experiences the lowest average temperatures in Alaska. Although it is rare for Barrow to record the lowest temperatures statewide during cold waves, extremely low wind chill
and "white out"
conditions from blowing snow
are very common.
Temperatures remain below freezing from early October through late May. The high daily temperature is above freezing on an average of only 109 days per year. There are freezing temperatures on an average of 324 days per year. Freezing temperatures, and snowfall, can occur during any month of the year.
Barrow is a desert, and averages less than 5 inches (13 cm) "rainfall equivalent" per year, given that one inch of rain possesses approximately equal water content to 12 inches (30 cm) of snow. This includes less than 30 inches (76 cm) of snow, compared to 101 inches (257 cm) for Kuujjuaq in Nunavik
, Quebec
or 84 inches (213 cm) and 77 inches (196 cm) for much warmer Juneau
and Kodiak
respectively. Even Sable Island
, 28 degrees further south, receives 44 inches (112 cm), or 52 percent more snowfall than Barrow.
The first snow (defined as snow that will not melt until next spring) generally falls during the first week of October, when temperatures cease to rise above freezing during the day. October is usually the month with the heaviest snowfall, with at least a trace of snow virtually every day and an average total accumulation of about 7 inches (18 cm).
Snow can also fall in the summer, and as a result, winter is given a far stricter definition than in places further south, including Fairbanks
. If the standard definition were used, then winter would be said to last from early September through late June, which, given the unique culture of Barrow and its adaptation to the cold, would be inaccurate in this case.
The sun sets on November 18 or 19, and it remains below the horizon for about 65 days. This creates a polar night that lasts until the sun rises again around January 22 or January 23. During the first half of the polar night
, there is a decreasing amount of twilight
each day, and on the winter solstice
(around December 21 or December 22), civil twilight in Barrow lasts for a mere 3 hours.
In addition to its low temperatures and polar night, Barrow is one of the cloudiest places on Earth. Owing to the prevailing easterly winds off the Arctic Ocean, Barrow is completely overcast slightly more than 50% of the year. It is at least 70% overcast 62% of the time. Cloud types are mainly low stratus
and fog; cumuli
forms are rare. Peak cloudiness occurs in August and September when the ocean is ice-free. Dense fog occurs an average of 65 days per year, mostly in the summer months. Ice fog
is very common during the winter months, especially when the temperature drops below -30 F.
Serious cold weather usually begins in January, and February is generally the coldest month, averaging -16 F. A few days in December, January, February and March feature daily record high temperatures in the low double digits, with the mid-30s that you see for the monthly record highs being exceptions. By March 1, the sun is up for 9 hours, the average temperature is 2 or 3 degrees warmer, and the winds are usually higher. April brings less extreme temperatures, with an average of about 0 °F (-18 °C), and on April 1 the sun is up for more than 14 hours. In May, the temperatures are much warmer, averaging 20 °F (-7 °C). Beginning on around May 11 or 12, the sun remains above the horizon the entire day, and the phenomenon
known as the midnight sun
is observed. The sun does not set for 82 to 83 days, until around July 31 or August 1. In June, the average temperature rises above freezing, to 35 °F (2 °C), and average daily temperatures remain above freezing until mid-September.The highest temperature recorded in Barrow was 79 degrees on July 13, 1993.
July is the warmest month of the year, with an average high of 46 °F (8 °C) and an average low temperature of 34 °F (1 °C). Beginning in late July, the Arctic Ocean is relatively ice-free, and remains so until late October.
Variation of wind speed during the year is limited, with the fall months being windiest. Extreme winds from 40 mile per hour have been recorded for all months. Winds average 12 mi/h and are typically from the east.
of 2000, there were 4,683 people, 1,399 households, and 976 families residing in the city. The population density was 249.0 people per square mile (96.1/km2). There were 1,620 housing units at an average density of 88.1 per square mile (34.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 57.19% Native American, 21.83% White, 9.41% Asian, 1.00% Black or African American, 1.35% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 8.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.
There were 1,399 households out of which 56.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 4.80.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 27.7% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males.
The median income for a household
in the city was $63,094.09, and the median income for a family was $68,223. Males had a median income of $51,959 versus $46,382 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,902. About 7.7% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line
, including 7.2% of those under the age of 18 and 13.12% of those 65 and older.
As of March 3, 2009, the town's website wrote of the population: "The largest city in the North Slope Borough, Barrow has 4,429 residents, of which approximately 61% are Iñupiat Eskimo."
, polar bear
, walrus
, waterfowl
, caribou
and fish are harvested from the coast or nearby rivers and lakes. Barrow is the headquarters of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
.
The roads in Barrow are unpaved, and no roads connect the city to the rest of Alaska. Barrow is served by Alaska Airlines with passenger jet service at the Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport from Anchorage
and Fairbanks
. New Service between Fairbanks
and Anchorage began from Era Aviation on June 1, 2009. Freight arrives by air cargo year round and by ocean-going marine barge
s during the annual summer sealift
.
Barrow also serves as the regional transportation center for the North Slope Borough's Arctic Coastal villages.
Multiple jet aircraft daily, with service from Deadhorse
(Prudhoe Bay
), Fairbanks
and Anchorage, provide mail, cargo, and passenger services, which connect with smaller single and twin engine general aviation
aircraft that provide regular service to other villages, from Kaktovik
in the east to Point Hope
in the west. The town is also served by several radio taxi services, most utilizing small four-wheel drive
vehicles.
In the Inupiaq language
the location of Barrow is called Ukpeagvik, which means "the place where we hunt Snowy Owl
s".
Archaeological sites in the area indicate the Inupiat lived around Barrow as far back as AD 500. Some remains of 16 dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture
of about AD 800 are still in evidence today on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Their position on a slight rise above the high water mark places them in danger of being lost to erosion within a short time.
Royal Navy
officers were in the area to explore and map the Arctic
coastline of North America. The United States Army
established a meteorological and magnetic research station at Barrow in 1881, and the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was established in 1893.
In 1888 a Presbyterian
church was built at Barrow, and in 1901 a United States Post Office
was opened.
In 1935 the famous humorist Will Rogers
and pilot Wiley Post
made an unplanned stop at Walakpa Bay 15 mi (24 km) south of Barrow while enroute to Barrow. As they took off again their plane stalled
and plunged into a river, killing them both. There are now two memorials at the location, now called the Rogers-Post Site
. There is another memorial located in Barrow, where the airport has been renamed the Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport.
Barrow was incorporated as a 1st Class City in 1958.
Residents of the North Slope 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, with millions of dollars in new revenues, created sanitation, water and electrical utilities, roads, fire departments, and health and educational services in Barrow and the villages of the North Slope
.
In 1986, the North Slope Borough created the North Slope Higher Education Center, which later became Ilisagvik College
, which is now an accredited two-year college dedicated to providing an education based on the Inupiat culture and the needs of the North Slope Borough.
The Tuzzy Consortium Library, in the Inupiat Heritage Center
, serves the communities of the North Slope Borough and functions as the academic library for Ilisagvik College
. The library was named after Evelyn Tuzroyluk Higbee.
Barrow, like many communities in Alaska, has enacted a "damp" law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, but allows for import, possession and consumption.
In 1988, Barrow became the center of a worldwide media attention when three California Gray Whale
s became trapped in the ice offshore. After a two week rescue effort, two of the whales were ultimately freed by a Soviet icebreaker. Journalist Tom Rose details the rescue, and the media frenzy which accompanied it, in his 1989 book Freeing The Whales. A movie based on the rescue is currently under development at Universal Pictures, scheduled for a 2012 release.
/KBRW-FM
radio station broadcasts in Barrow on 680 kHz
AM
and 91.9 MHz FM
. KBRW is also broadcast via FM repeaters
in all of the North Slope Borough villages, from Kaktovik to Point Hope.
The Arctic Sounder is a newspaper published weekly by Alaska Newspapers, Inc.
, covers news of interest to the North Slope Borough, which includes Barrow, and the Northwest Arctic Borough
which includes Kotzebue
, in northwestern Alaska.
On August 19, 2006, the Barrow Whalers of Barrow High School
played the first official football
game in the Arctic against Delta Junction
High School. Barrow recorded its first win two weeks later; the coaches and players celebrated the historic win by jumping into the Arctic Ocean, just 100 yd (91.4 m) from the makeshift dirt field.
On August 17, 2007, the Whalers football team played their first game of the season on their new artificial turf
field. The historic game, attended by former Miami Dolphins
player Larry Czonka, was the first live Internet broadcast of a sporting event in the United States from north of the Arctic Circle.
comic book
s entitled 30 Days of Night
. The stories center on vampires who take advantage of the more than a month of darkness that takes place annually in the town to engage in a killing spree. A commercially successful film
, named after and based upon the comic, was released on October 19, 2007, followed by a straight-to-video sequel
on July 23, 2010.
Karl Pilkington is sent to Barrow in the second season of An Idiot Abroad
.
Inupiaq language
The Inupiat language, also known as Inupiatun, Inupiaq, Iñupiaq, Inyupiaq, Inyupiat, Inyupeat, Inyupik, and Inupik, is a group of dialects of the Inuit language, spoken in northern and northwestern Alaska. The Iñupiaq language is a member of the Eskimo languages group. There are roughly 2,100...
Utqiaġvik or Ukpiaġvik ) is the largest city of the North Slope Borough
North Slope Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Cape Lisburne** Cape Thompson* Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ** Mollie Beattie Wilderness * Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is one of the northernmost cities
Northernmost cities and towns
This is a list of the northernmost cities and towns in the world.-Larger cities:Northernmost cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.Northernmost cities with more than 250,000 inhabitants.-See also:*Southernmost cities and towns...
in the world and is the northernmost city in the United States of America
Extreme points of the United States
This is a list of the extreme points of the United States, the points that are farther north, south, east, or west than any other location in the country. Also included are extreme points in elevation, extreme distances, and other points of peculiar geographic interest.-Northernmost:*Point Barrow,...
, with nearby Point Barrow
Point Barrow
Point Barrow or Nuvuk is a headland on the Arctic coast in the U.S. state of Alaska, northeast of Barrow. It is the northernmost point of all the territory of the United States, at...
being the nation's northernmost point. Barrow's population was 4,212 at the 2010 census. The city was named after Sir John Barrow
Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet
Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, FRS, FRGS was an English statesman.-Career:He was born the son of Roger Barrow in the village of Dragley Beck, in the parish of Ulverston then in Lancashire, now in Cumbria...
.
Etymology
The city derived its name from Point Barrow, which was named by Frederick William BeecheyFrederick William Beechey
Frederick William Beechey was an English naval officer and geographer. He was the son of Sir William Beechey, RA., and was born in London.-Career:...
in 1825 for Sir John Barrow
Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet
Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, FRS, FRGS was an English statesman.-Career:He was born the son of Roger Barrow in the village of Dragley Beck, in the parish of Ulverston then in Lancashire, now in Cumbria...
of the British Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
. The location has been home to Native Inupiat Eskimo
Eskimo
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
people for over 1,000 years under the name Ukpeagvik or "place where snowy owls are hunted".
Geography
Barrow is located at 71°17′44"N 156°45′59"W. It is the only U.S. city on the continent of North America with an antipodeAntipodes
In geography, the antipodes of any place on Earth is the point on the Earth's surface which is diametrically opposite to it. Two points that are antipodal to one another are connected by a straight line running through the centre of the Earth....
on dry (though uninhabited) land. The antipode is in Antarctica at 71°17′44"S 23°14′1"E. Barrow is roughly 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) south of the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
. Only 5.3% of the Earth's surface lies as far from the Equator as Barrow.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 21 sq mi (54.4 km²). 18 sq mi (46.6 km²) of it is land and 3 sq mi (8 km²) of it is water. The total area is 14% water. The predominant land type in Barrow is tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
, which sits on permafrost
Permafrost
In geology, permafrost, cryotic soil or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts exceeding the potential hydraulic saturation of...
that is as much as 1300 foot in depth.
Barrow is surrounded by the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska
National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska
The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is an area of land on the Alaska North Slope owned by the United States federal government and managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management . It lies to the west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which as a U.S...
.
Climate
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, Barrow's climate is cold and dry, and is classified as a polar climate
Polar climate
Regions with a polar climate are characterized by a lack of warm summers . Regions with polar climate cover over 20% of the Earth. The sun shines 24 hours in the summer, and barely ever shines at all in the winter...
. Winter weather can be extremely dangerous because of the combination of cold and wind, while summers are cool even at their warmest. Weather observations are available for Barrow dating back to the late 19th century. Currently there is a National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
(NWS) Office and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA) Climate Monitoring Lab in Barrow. The United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
(DOE) also has a climate observation site in Barrow as part of its Atmospheric Radiation Measurement
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement
The United States Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program was created in 1989 to develop several highly instrumented ground stations to study cloud formation processes and their influence on radiative transfer...
(ARM) Climate Research Facility.
Despite the extreme northern location, temperatures at Barrow are moderated by the surrounding topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
. The Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
is on three sides, and flat tundra stretches some 200 mile to the south. Thus, there are no wind barriers, and there are no protected valleys where dense cold air can settle or form temperature inversions
Inversion (meteorology)
In meteorology, an inversion is a deviation from the normal change of an atmospheric property with altitude. It almost always refers to a temperature inversion, i.e...
in the lower atmosphere in the way that commonly happens in the Interior between the Brooks Range
Brooks Range
The Brooks Range is a mountain range in far northern North America. It stretches from west to east across northern Alaska and into Canada's Yukon Territory, a total distance of about 1100 km . The mountains top out at over 2,700 m . The range is believed to be approximately 126 million years old...
and the Alaska Range
Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
.
Nonetheless, Barrow experiences the lowest average temperatures in Alaska. Although it is rare for Barrow to record the lowest temperatures statewide during cold waves, extremely low wind chill
Wind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
and "white out"
Whiteout (weather)
Whiteout is a weather condition in which visibility and contrast are severely reduced by snow or sand. The horizon disappears completely and there are no reference points at all, leaving the individual with a distorted orientation...
conditions from blowing snow
Blowing snow
Blowing snow is snow lifted from the surface by the wind, at a height of 8 feet or more, that will reduce visibility. Blowing snow can come from falling snow or snow that already accumulated on the ground but is picked up and blown about by strong winds. It is one of the classic requirements for a...
are very common.
Temperatures remain below freezing from early October through late May. The high daily temperature is above freezing on an average of only 109 days per year. There are freezing temperatures on an average of 324 days per year. Freezing temperatures, and snowfall, can occur during any month of the year.
Barrow is a desert, and averages less than 5 inches (13 cm) "rainfall equivalent" per year, given that one inch of rain possesses approximately equal water content to 12 inches (30 cm) of snow. This includes less than 30 inches (76 cm) of snow, compared to 101 inches (257 cm) for Kuujjuaq in Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
or 84 inches (213 cm) and 77 inches (196 cm) for much warmer Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
and Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
respectively. Even Sable Island
Sable Island
Sable Island is a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a year-round home to approximately five people...
, 28 degrees further south, receives 44 inches (112 cm), or 52 percent more snowfall than Barrow.
The first snow (defined as snow that will not melt until next spring) generally falls during the first week of October, when temperatures cease to rise above freezing during the day. October is usually the month with the heaviest snowfall, with at least a trace of snow virtually every day and an average total accumulation of about 7 inches (18 cm).
Snow can also fall in the summer, and as a result, winter is given a far stricter definition than in places further south, including Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
. If the standard definition were used, then winter would be said to last from early September through late June, which, given the unique culture of Barrow and its adaptation to the cold, would be inaccurate in this case.
The sun sets on November 18 or 19, and it remains below the horizon for about 65 days. This creates a polar night that lasts until the sun rises again around January 22 or January 23. During the first half of the polar night
Polar night
The polar night occurs when the night lasts for more than 24 hours. This occurs only inside the polar circles. The opposite phenomenon, the polar day, or midnight sun, occurs when the sun stays above the horizon for more than 24 hours.-Description:...
, there is a decreasing amount of twilight
Twilight
Twilight is the time between dawn and sunrise or between sunset and dusk, during which sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere illuminates the lower atmosphere, and the surface of the earth is neither completely lit nor completely dark. The sun itself is not directly visible because it is below...
each day, and on the winter solstice
Winter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
(around December 21 or December 22), civil twilight in Barrow lasts for a mere 3 hours.
In addition to its low temperatures and polar night, Barrow is one of the cloudiest places on Earth. Owing to the prevailing easterly winds off the Arctic Ocean, Barrow is completely overcast slightly more than 50% of the year. It is at least 70% overcast 62% of the time. Cloud types are mainly low stratus
Stratus cloud
A stratus cloud is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective clouds that are as tall or taller than wide . More specifically, the term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds of low altitude varying in color...
and fog; cumuli
Cumulus cloud
Cumulus clouds are a type of cloud with noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. Cumulus means "heap" or "pile" in Latin. They are often described as "puffy" or "cotton-like" in appearance. Cumulus clouds may appear alone, in lines, or in clusters...
forms are rare. Peak cloudiness occurs in August and September when the ocean is ice-free. Dense fog occurs an average of 65 days per year, mostly in the summer months. Ice fog
Ice fog
Ice fog is a type of fog consisting of fine ice crystals suspended in the air. It can happen only in cold areas of the world since water can remain liquid down to -40 °C...
is very common during the winter months, especially when the temperature drops below -30 F.
Serious cold weather usually begins in January, and February is generally the coldest month, averaging -16 F. A few days in December, January, February and March feature daily record high temperatures in the low double digits, with the mid-30s that you see for the monthly record highs being exceptions. By March 1, the sun is up for 9 hours, the average temperature is 2 or 3 degrees warmer, and the winds are usually higher. April brings less extreme temperatures, with an average of about 0 °F (-18 °C), and on April 1 the sun is up for more than 14 hours. In May, the temperatures are much warmer, averaging 20 °F (-7 °C). Beginning on around May 11 or 12, the sun remains above the horizon the entire day, and the phenomenon
Natural phenomenon
A natural phenomenon is a non-artificial event in the physical sense, and therefore not produced by humans, although it may affect humans . Common examples of natural phenomena include volcanic eruptions, weather, decay, gravity and erosion...
known as the midnight sun
Midnight sun
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous...
is observed. The sun does not set for 82 to 83 days, until around July 31 or August 1. In June, the average temperature rises above freezing, to 35 °F (2 °C), and average daily temperatures remain above freezing until mid-September.The highest temperature recorded in Barrow was 79 degrees on July 13, 1993.
July is the warmest month of the year, with an average high of 46 °F (8 °C) and an average low temperature of 34 °F (1 °C). Beginning in late July, the Arctic Ocean is relatively ice-free, and remains so until late October.
Variation of wind speed during the year is limited, with the fall months being windiest. Extreme winds from 40 mile per hour have been recorded for all months. Winds average 12 mi/h and are typically from the east.
Demographics
As of the censusUnited States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
of 2000, there were 4,683 people, 1,399 households, and 976 families residing in the city. The population density was 249.0 people per square mile (96.1/km2). There were 1,620 housing units at an average density of 88.1 per square mile (34.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 57.19% Native American, 21.83% White, 9.41% Asian, 1.00% Black or African American, 1.35% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 8.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.
There were 1,399 households out of which 56.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 4.80.
The median income for a household
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
in the city was $63,094.09, and the median income for a family was $68,223. Males had a median income of $51,959 versus $46,382 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $22,902. About 7.7% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 7.2% of those under the age of 18 and 13.12% of those 65 and older.
As of March 3, 2009, the town's website wrote of the population: "The largest city in the North Slope Borough, Barrow has 4,429 residents, of which approximately 61% are Iñupiat Eskimo."
Economy
Barrow is the economic center of the North Slope Borough, the city's primary employer, and numerous businesses provide support services to oil field operations. State and federal agencies also provide employment. The midnight sun has attracted tourism and arts and crafts provide some cash income. Many residents rely upon subsistence food sources: whale, sealPinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
, polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
, walrus
Walrus
The walrus is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus. It is subdivided into three subspecies: the Atlantic...
, waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, caribou
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
and fish are harvested from the coast or nearby rivers and lakes. Barrow is the headquarters of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, or ASRC, is one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 in settlement of aboriginal land claims. Arctic Slope Regional Corporation was incorporated in Alaska on June 22, 1972...
.
Transportation
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
and Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
. New Service between Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
and Anchorage began from Era Aviation on June 1, 2009. Freight arrives by air cargo year round and by ocean-going marine barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s during the annual summer sealift
Sealift
Sealift is a term used predominantly in military logistics and refers to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, vehicles, military personnel, and supplies...
.
Barrow also serves as the regional transportation center for the North Slope Borough's Arctic Coastal villages.
Multiple jet aircraft daily, with service from Deadhorse
Deadhorse, Alaska
Deadhorse is an unincorporated community in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States, along the North Slope near the Arctic Ocean. The town consists mainly of facilities for the workers and companies that operate at the nearby Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Deadhorse is accessible via the Dalton Highway...
(Prudhoe Bay
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Prudhoe Bay or Sagavanirktok is a census-designated place located in North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 2,174 people; however, at any given time several thousand transient workers support the Prudhoe Bay oil field...
), Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
and Anchorage, provide mail, cargo, and passenger services, which connect with smaller single and twin engine general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft that provide regular service to other villages, from Kaktovik
Kaktovik, Alaska
Kaktovik is a city in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 293.-Geography:Kaktovik is located at ....
in the east to Point Hope
Point Hope, Alaska
Point Hope is a city in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 757.-Geography:...
in the west. The town is also served by several radio taxi services, most utilizing small four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
vehicles.
History
Inupiaq language
The Inupiat language, also known as Inupiatun, Inupiaq, Iñupiaq, Inyupiaq, Inyupiat, Inyupeat, Inyupik, and Inupik, is a group of dialects of the Inuit language, spoken in northern and northwestern Alaska. The Iñupiaq language is a member of the Eskimo languages group. There are roughly 2,100...
the location of Barrow is called Ukpeagvik, which means "the place where we hunt Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...
s".
Archaeological sites in the area indicate the Inupiat lived around Barrow as far back as AD 500. Some remains of 16 dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture
Birnirk culture
The Birnirk culture is a prehistoric Inuit civilization of the north coast of Alaska, dating from 500 AD to 900 AD and disappearing around 1000 AD. It succeeded the Punuk and Old Bering Sea/Okvik cultures and is distinguished from those cultures due to different art and harpoon styles. It preceded...
of about AD 800 are still in evidence today on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Their position on a slight rise above the high water mark places them in danger of being lost to erosion within a short time.
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officers were in the area to explore and map the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
coastline of North America. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
established a meteorological and magnetic research station at Barrow in 1881, and the Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was established in 1893.
In 1888 a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
church was built at Barrow, and in 1901 a United States Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
was opened.
In 1935 the famous humorist Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
and pilot Wiley Post
Wiley Post
Wiley Hardeman Post was a famed American aviator, the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Also known for his work in high altitude flying, Post helped develop one of the first pressure suits. His Lockheed Vega aircraft, the Winnie Mae, was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's...
made an unplanned stop at Walakpa Bay 15 mi (24 km) south of Barrow while enroute to Barrow. As they took off again their plane stalled
Stall (flight)
In fluid dynamics, a stall is a reduction in the lift coefficient generated by a foil as angle of attack increases. This occurs when the critical angle of attack of the foil is exceeded...
and plunged into a river, killing them both. There are now two memorials at the location, now called the Rogers-Post Site
Rogers-Post Site
The Rogers-Post Site, located on the North Slope of the U.S. state of Alaska, is the location of a plane crash that killed humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post on 15 August 1935 during an aerial tour of Alaska. It is about 13 miles southwest of Barrow, on the north side of Walakpa Bay near...
. There is another memorial located in Barrow, where the airport has been renamed the Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport.
Barrow was incorporated as a 1st Class City in 1958.
Residents of the North Slope cast the lone vote in opposition to passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, commonly abbreviated ANCSA, was signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 23, 1971, the largest land claims settlement in United States history. ANCSA was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in...
, which passed in December 1971. In 1972, the North Slope Borough was established. The borough, with millions of dollars in new revenues, created sanitation, water and electrical utilities, roads, fire departments, and health and educational services in Barrow and the villages of the North Slope
Alaska North Slope
The Alaska North Slope is the region of the U.S. state of Alaska located on the northern slope of the Brooks Range along the coast of two marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean, the Chukchi Sea being on the western side of Point Barrow, and the Beaufort Sea on the eastern.The region contains the...
.
In 1986, the North Slope Borough created the North Slope Higher Education Center, which later became Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
Iḷisaġvik College is a public community college located in Barrow, Alaska, on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. The College is the only tribally controlled college in Alaska and is the northernmost accredited community college in the United States. Accredited in 2003 by the Northwest Commission on...
, which is now an accredited two-year college dedicated to providing an education based on the Inupiat culture and the needs of the North Slope Borough.
The Tuzzy Consortium Library, in the Inupiat Heritage Center
Inupiat Heritage Center
The Iñupiat Heritage Center is a museum in Barrow in the U.S. state of Alaska. Dedicated in February 1999, it is an affiliated area of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and recognizes the contributions of Alaska Natives to the history of whaling.It houses...
, serves the communities of the North Slope Borough and functions as the academic library for Ilisagvik College
Ilisagvik College
Iḷisaġvik College is a public community college located in Barrow, Alaska, on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. The College is the only tribally controlled college in Alaska and is the northernmost accredited community college in the United States. Accredited in 2003 by the Northwest Commission on...
. The library was named after Evelyn Tuzroyluk Higbee.
Barrow, like many communities in Alaska, has enacted a "damp" law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, but allows for import, possession and consumption.
In 1988, Barrow became the center of a worldwide media attention when three California Gray Whale
Gray Whale
The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about , a weight of , and lives 50–70 years. The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were...
s became trapped in the ice offshore. After a two week rescue effort, two of the whales were ultimately freed by a Soviet icebreaker. Journalist Tom Rose details the rescue, and the media frenzy which accompanied it, in his 1989 book Freeing The Whales. A movie based on the rescue is currently under development at Universal Pictures, scheduled for a 2012 release.
Media
KBRW (AM)KBRW (AM)
KBRW is a non-commercial radio station in Barrow, Alaska, broadcasting on 680 AM. The station airs public radio programming from the National Public Radio and networks. KBRW also airs some locally originated programming, as well as native affairs, popular music and religious programs.KBRW airs a...
/KBRW-FM
KBRW-FM
KBRW-FM is a non-commercial radio station in Barrow, Alaska, broadcasting on 91.9 FM. The station airs public radio programming from the National Public Radio and WFMT networks...
radio station broadcasts in Barrow on 680 kHz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
and 91.9 MHz FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
. KBRW is also broadcast via FM repeaters
Broadcast relay station
A broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator , rebroadcaster , or repeater is a broadcast transmitter which relays, repeats, or reflects the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area not covered by the signal of the originating station...
in all of the North Slope Borough villages, from Kaktovik to Point Hope.
The Arctic Sounder is a newspaper published weekly by Alaska Newspapers, Inc.
Alaska Newspapers, Inc.
Alaska Newspapers, Inc. was, until August 2011, the publisher of six weekly Alaska newspapers, a quarterly magazine, and several special publications including a shopper, visitor's guides, and programs....
, covers news of interest to the North Slope Borough, which includes Barrow, and the Northwest Arctic Borough
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chamisso Wilderness* Bering Land Bridge National Preserve * Cape Krusenstern National Monument* Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
which includes Kotzebue
Kotzebue, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,082 people, 889 households, and 656 families residing in the city. The population density was 114.1 people per square mile . There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 37.3 per square mile...
, in northwestern Alaska.
Sports teams
Barrow High School
Barrow High School is a public high school in Barrow, Alaska, United States, operated by the North Slope Borough School District. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the school had 214 students.-External links:* * * *...
played the first official football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
game in the Arctic against Delta Junction
Delta Junction, Alaska
Delta Junction is a city in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 897. The city is located a short distance south of the confluence of the Delta River with the Tanana River, which is at Big Delta...
High School. Barrow recorded its first win two weeks later; the coaches and players celebrated the historic win by jumping into the Arctic Ocean, just 100 yd (91.4 m) from the makeshift dirt field.
On August 17, 2007, the Whalers football team played their first game of the season on their new artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
field. The historic game, attended by former Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
player Larry Czonka, was the first live Internet broadcast of a sporting event in the United States from north of the Arctic Circle.
Depictions in popular culture
Barrow is the setting for a series of horrorHorror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s entitled 30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night
30 Days of Night is a three-issue horror comic book mini-series written by Steve Niles, illustrated by Ben Templesmith, and published by IDW Publishing in 2002. All three parties co-own the property....
. The stories center on vampires who take advantage of the more than a month of darkness that takes place annually in the town to engage in a killing spree. A commercially successful film
30 Days of Night (film)
30 Days of Night is a 2007 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. The film is directed by David Slade and stars Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston...
, named after and based upon the comic, was released on October 19, 2007, followed by a straight-to-video sequel
30 Days of Night: Dark Days
30 Days of Night: Dark Days is a 2010 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. It was directed by and written by Ben Ketai, alongside co-writer Steve Niles. It is a sequel to the 2007 film, 30 Days of Night...
on July 23, 2010.
Karl Pilkington is sent to Barrow in the second season of An Idiot Abroad
An Idiot Abroad
An Idiot Abroad is a travel documentary television series broadcast on Sky1, as well as a spin-off book published by Canongate Books, created by and featuring Karl Pilkington and his former radio show colleagues Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant....
.
Special events
- Kivgiq, The Messenger Feast. In more recent times this has been held almost every year, but "officially" is held every two or three years in late January or early February, and is called at the discretion of the North Slope Borough Mayor. Kivgiq is an international event which attracts visitors from around the Arctic Circle.
- Piuraagiaqta, The Spring Festival. Held in mid-April and includes many outdoor activities.
- Nalukataq, The Blanket Toss Celebration. Held on multiple days beginning in the third week of June to celebrate each successful spring whale hunt.
- July 4, Independence DayIndependence Day (United States)Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
. In Barrow this is time for EskimoEskimoEskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
games, such as the two-foot high kickTwo-foot high kickThe two-foot high kick is a traditional Inuit jumping event that occurs at many Arctic sports competitions. In the two-foot high kick, athletes must jump using two feet, touch a hanging target with both feet, and land on both feet, maintaining balance...
and ear pullEar pullThe ear pull is a traditional Inuit game which tests the competitors' ability to endure pain. In the ear pull, two competitors sit facing each other, their legs straddled and interlocked. A two-foot-long loop of string, similar to a thick, waxed dental floss, is looped behind their ears,...
, with the winners going on to compete at the World Eskimo Indian OlympicsWorld Eskimo Indian OlympicsThe World Eskimo-Indian Olympics is an annual event held over a four-day period in July or August, designed to preserve cultural practices and traditional survival skills essential to life in circumpolar areas of the world...
. - WhalingAboriginal whalingAboriginal whaling is the hunting of whales carried out by aboriginal groups who have a tradition of whaling....
. Generally happens during the second week of October. - Qitik, Eskimo Games. Also known as Christmas Games, are from December 26 through January 1.
- New teacher In-service and welcome, August of each year.
See also
- National Petroleum Reserve–AlaskaNational Petroleum Reserve–AlaskaThe National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is an area of land on the Alaska North Slope owned by the United States federal government and managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management . It lies to the west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which as a U.S...
- Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat CorporationUkpeagvik Iñupiat CorporationUkpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, or UIC, is one of about 200 Alaska Native village corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 in settlement of aboriginal land claims. Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation was incorporated in Alaska on April 19, 1973...
- Arctic Slope Regional CorporationArctic Slope Regional CorporationArctic Slope Regional Corporation, or ASRC, is one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 in settlement of aboriginal land claims. Arctic Slope Regional Corporation was incorporated in Alaska on June 22, 1972...
- Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional GovernmentNative Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional GovernmentThe Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government is a U.S. federally recognized Alaska Native Inupiat "tribal entity", as listed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs circa 2003...
- Point Barrow whales
- UmiakUmiakThe umiak, umialak, umiaq, umiac, oomiac or oomiak is a type of boat used by Eskimo people, both Yupik and Inuit, and was originally found in all coastal areas from Siberia to Greenland. First arising in Thule times, it has traditionally been used in summer to move people and possessions to...
- The blob (Chukchi Sea algae)The blob (Chukchi Sea algae)The blob is a term used to refer to a large mass of algae that was first spotted floating in the Chukchi Sea between the Alaskan cities of Wainwright and Barrow in July 2009. A notable feature of the mass is its length of at least . The algae is colored black, which is considered to be unusual....
- Frederick William BeecheyFrederick William BeecheyFrederick William Beechey was an English naval officer and geographer. He was the son of Sir William Beechey, RA., and was born in London.-Career:...
and Sir John BarrowSir John Barrow, 1st BaronetSir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, FRS, FRGS was an English statesman.-Career:He was born the son of Roger Barrow in the village of Dragley Beck, in the parish of Ulverston then in Lancashire, now in Cumbria... - North Slope BoroughNorth Slope Borough, Alaska-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Cape Lisburne** Cape Thompson* Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ** Mollie Beattie Wilderness * Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
and Alaska North SlopeAlaska North SlopeThe Alaska North Slope is the region of the U.S. state of Alaska located on the northern slope of the Brooks Range along the coast of two marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean, the Chukchi Sea being on the western side of Point Barrow, and the Beaufort Sea on the eastern.The region contains the...