88-566: North Slope Borough School District ( NSBSD ) is a school district headquartered in Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow). It serves all areas of the North Slope Borough . This makes it the largest school district in the United States by area, with a total area of around 229,731 km (88,700 sq mi) K-12 schools: Schools in Utqiaġvik : This Alaska school-related article
176-644: A moratorium on commercial fishing of the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, including the disputed waters. In July 2010, US–Canada negotiations have started in Ottawa with the next meeting planned in 2011. A joint geological survey of the area has been initiated, and the issue was marked as settled by the CIA World Factbook , though no official document has been released by September 2010. On August 20, 2009 United States Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced
264-496: A moratorium on fishing the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska. According to Locke: "As Arctic sea ice recedes due to climate change, there is increasing interest in commercial fishing in Arctic waters. We are in a position to plan for sustainable fishing that does not damage the overall health of this fragile ecosystem. This plan takes a precautionary approach to any development of commercial fishing in an area where there has been none in
352-629: A chance, such as carcasses and whales trapped in ice fields. "There is only one proposed Early-Entry site in eastern Beringia that still has proponents, Bluefish Caves in the Porcupine River Basin, Yukon Territory, Canada. Claims of great antiquity in the area [e.g., 30kya] have a convoluted history. A caribou tibia flesher, the most diagnostic human implement from the Old Crow basin, had been dated at near 28 kya. When redated using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) of small amounts of remnant collagen
440-504: A climate observation site in Utqiagvik as part of its Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility. Despite the extreme northern location, temperatures at Utqiagvik are moderated by the surrounding topography . The Arctic Ocean is on three sides, and flat tundra stretches some 200 mi (320 km) to the south. No wind barriers or protected valleys exist where dense cold air can settle or form temperature inversions in
528-446: A food for seabirds and fish, primarily as polar cod and Arctic char. Polar cod is a major food of Arctic char, beluga, narwhal , seabirds and seals, which are dominated by the bearded seal ( Erignatus barbatus ) and ringed seal ( Pusa hispida ). Bearded seal and walrus also feed on benthic invertebrates. On top of the food pyramid stands the polar bear, which feeds primarily on seals, but also on any large marine mammals when it has
616-402: A maritime boundary where there are no special circumstances in the area and when equidistance results in a boundary in accordance with equitable principles". Canada contends that an equidistance principle does not result in an equitable boundary, because distortion would occur. The coast of Yukon is concave, whereas the coast of Alaska is convex; and thus an equidistance principle would result in
704-472: A meteorological and magnetic research station at Utqiagvik in 1881. In 1888, a Presbyterian church was built by United States missionaries at Utqiagvik. The church is still in use today. In 1889, a whaling supply and rescue station was built. It is the oldest wood-frame building in Utqiagvik and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The rescue station was converted in 1896 for use as
792-472: A place for gathering wild roots. It is derived from the Iñupiat word utqiq , also used for Claytonia tuberosa (" Eskimo potato "). The name was first recorded by European explorers in 1853 as "Ot-ki-a-wing" by Commander Rochfort Maguire , Royal Navy. John Simpson's native map dated 1855 has the name "Otkiawik", which was later misprinted on a British Admiralty chart as "Otkiovik." The former name Barrow
880-468: A position that the U.S. rejects. This dispute is in this respect a mirror image of the dispute between the U.S. and Canada over the Gulf of Maine , where the U.S. argued for "special circumstances" and Canada argued for the equidistance principle. (In that latter dispute, both of those arguments were rejected, and the border was drawn based upon geometric principles taking into account geographic factors. ) Neither
968-724: A river, killing them both. Two memorials have been erected at the location, now called the Rogers–Post Site . Another memorial is located in Utqiagvik, where the airport was renamed the Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport in their honor. In 1940, the Indigenous Iñupiat organized as the Native Village of Barrow Iñupiat Traditional Government (previously, Native Village of Barrow), a federally recognized Alaska Native Iñupiat "tribal entity" as listed by
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#17330929396131056-501: A significant extension of the U.S. possession. This dispute has taken on increased significance due to the possible presence of natural reserves within the wedge, which according to Canada's National Energy Board may contain 1,700,000,000 m (6.0 × 10 cu ft) of gas, which would cover the national consumption for 20 years, and more than 1,000,000,000 m (3.5 × 10 cu ft) of oil. Because of this, Canada argues that "special circumstances" apply to this border,
1144-542: A similar interpretation under the treaty whereby it acquired Alaska . Both the U.S. and Canada agree that they are bound by the 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf ; and they both agree that the boundary should be "equitable", as determined by the International Court of Justice . They differ on what should be deemed "equitable". The U.S. contends that "equidistance is an appropriate principle for determining
1232-936: A temperature of −1.4 °C (29.5 °F) in summer and −1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in winter. The next layer is formed by the inflows from the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea coming through the Bering Strait ; it extends up to the North Pole . The warmest, deep Atlantic layer has the temperatures between 0 and 1 °C (32 and 34 °F), and water at the bottom is a bit colder at −0.4 to −0.8 °C (31.3 to 30.6 °F). The average salinity varies between 28‰ and 32‰ (parts per thousand) from south to north. Typical air temperatures (at Tuktoyaktuk) are −27 °C (−17 °F) in January and 11 °C (52 °F) in July. The water currents form
1320-743: Is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean , located north of the Northwest Territories , Yukon , and Alaska , and west of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago . The sea is named after Sir Francis Beaufort , a hydrographer . The Mackenzie River , the longest in Canada , empties into the Canadian part of the Beaufort Sea west of Tuktoyaktuk , which is one of the few permanent settlements on the sea's shores. The sea, characterized by severe climate,
1408-414: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Utqia%C4%A1vik, Alaska Utqiagvik ( / ˌ ʊ t k i ˈ ɑː v ɪ k / UUT -kee- AH -vik ; Inupiaq : Utqiaġvik , IPA: [utqe.ɑʁvik] ), formerly known as Barrow ( / ˈ b ær oʊ / BARR -oh ), is the borough seat and largest city of the North Slope Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska . Located north of
1496-520: Is a for-profit village corporation established under the Act. In 1972, the North Slope Borough was established. The borough has built sanitation facilities, water and electrical utilities, roads, and fire departments, and has established health and educational services in Utqiagvik and the villages of the North Slope with millions of dollars in new revenues from the settlement and later oil revenues. In 1986,
1584-436: Is cold and dry, classified as a tundra climate ( Köppen ET ). Winter weather can be hazardous because of the combination of cold and wind, while summers are cool even at their warmest. Weather observation records are available for Utqiagvik, dating back to the late 19th century. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Monitoring Lab operates in Utqiagvik. The United States Department of Energy has
1672-523: Is completely overcast slightly more than 50% of the year. It is at least 70% overcast around 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 yearly, mostly in summer. Ice fog is very common during the winter months, especially when the temperature drops below −30 °F (−34 °C). Wind speed variation during
1760-464: Is frozen over most of the year. Historically, only a narrow pass up to 100 km (62 mi) opened in August–September near its shores, but recently due to climate change in the Arctic the ice-free area in late summer has greatly enlarged. Until recently, the Beaufort Sea was known as an important reservoir for the replenishment of Arctic sea ice. Sea ice would often rotate for several years in
1848-604: Is now, a natural hunting place at the base of a peninsula that pokes out into the Beaufort Sea ... Yankee whalers sailed here, learning about the bowhead whale from Iñupiat hunters... Later, the military came, setting up a radar station, and in 1947 a science center was founded at Barrow. British Royal Navy officers came to the area to explore and map the Arctic coastline of North America. The US acquired Alaska in 1867 by purchasing it from Russia. The United States Army established
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#17330929396131936-587: Is relatively small owing to the cold climate. Major fish species include polar cod ( Boreogadus saida ), Arctic cod ( Arctogadus glacialis ), saffron cod ( Eleginus gracilis ), Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus ), chum salmon ( Oncorhynchus keta ), Arctic cisco ( Coregonus autumnalis ), least cisco ( Coregonus sardinella ), lake whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ), broad whitefish ( Coregonus nasus ), Pacific herring ( Clupea pallasii ), fourhorn sculpin ( Myoxocephalus quadricornis ), inconnu ( Stenodus leucichthys ) and flatfish . The eastern part of
2024-555: Is surrounded by the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska . The city of Utqiagvik has three sections, which can be classified as south, central, and north. They are known to residents as Utqiagvik, Browerville, and NARL, respectively. An ancient 5.0 mi (8 km)-sized crater, Avak , is situated near Utqiagvik. Owing to its location 330 mi (530 km) north of the Arctic Circle , Utqiagvik's climate
2112-541: Is the economic center of the North Slope Borough, the city's primary employer. Many businesses provide support services to oil field operations. State and federal agencies are employers. The midnight sun has attracted tourism, and arts and crafts offer some cash income. Because transporting food to the city is expensive, many residents continue relying on subsistence food sources. Whale , seal , polar bear , walrus , waterfowl , caribou , and fish are harvested from
2200-459: The 141st meridian west out to a distance of 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi), following the Alaska–Yukon land border. This follows the natural prolongation principle , which holds that a nation's maritime boundary should reflect the 'natural prolongation' of where its land territory reaches the coast. The position of the United States is that the boundary line should be perpendicular to
2288-525: The Arctic Circle , it is one of the northernmost cities and towns in the world and the northernmost in the United States , with nearby Point Barrow as the country's northernmost point. Utqiagvik's population was 4,927 at the 2020 census , an increase from 4,212 in 2010. It is the 12th-most populated city in Alaska. The location has been home to the Iñupiat , an indigenous Inuit ethnic group, for more than 1,500 years. The city's Iñupiaq name refers to
2376-621: The Athabaskan First Nations peoples and Inuit during 1920–1960, but has since declined. The Beaufort Sea contains major gas and petroleum reserves beneath the seabed, a continuation of proven reserves in the nearby Mackenzie River and North Slope. The Beaufort Sea was first explored for sub-shelf hydrocarbons in the 1950s and estimated to contain about 250 km (60 cu mi) of oil and 300,000 km (72,000 cu mi) of natural gas under its coastal shelf. Offshore drilling began in 1972; about 70 wells were set up by
2464-510: The Beaufort Gyre , the dominant ocean current of the Beaufort Sea, growing into sturdy and thick multi-year ice. Claims that the seacoast was populated about 30,000 years ago have been largely discredited (see below); present population density is very low. The sea contains significant resources of petroleum and natural gas under its shelf, such as the Amauligak field. They were discovered in
2552-719: The Kongakut River in Alaska and the Firth River in Yukon empty into the Beaufort. The major river to flow into the sea is the Mackenzie, Canada's longest, which empties into the Canadian part of the sea, west of Tuktoyaktuk. The coastal shelf area is rather narrow, especially near and east of Point Barrow in the Alaskan part of the sea, and contains numerous submarine valleys . It becomes wider near
2640-592: The North Slope Science Initiative's Science Technical Advisory Panel, wrote in his 2009 book Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places : Barrow, like most communities in Alaska, looks temporary, like a pioneer settlement. It is not. Barrow is among the oldest permanent settlements in the United States. Hundreds of years before the European Arctic explorers showed up... Barrow was more or less where it
2728-632: The Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1825) between the United Kingdom and the Russian Empire that set the boundary between the two. Canada is the successor state to Great Britain in relation to this treaty, which stipulates: the line of demarcation shall follow the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the Coast, as far as the point of intersection of the 141st degree of West longitude […] and, finally, from
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2816-544: The University of Miami , an anticipated rise in sea level and consequent global warming is inevitable, meaning the existence of Utqiagvik at its current location is doomed in the relative geological short term. Smoothed data from NOAA show that Utqiagvik has warmed by more than 11 °F (6.1 °C) since 1976. On December 5, 2022, Utqiagvik broke its previous record for the warmest winter temperature, hitting 40 °F (4 °C). The town first appeared in census records in
2904-535: The 1880 U.S. Census as the unincorporated Inuit village of "Ootiwakh". All 225 of its residents were Inuit. In 1890, the community and area were returned as the "Cape Smythe Settlements", which included the refuge and whaling stations, Pengnok, Utkeavie, Kugaru (Inaru) River villages, four other camps, and Whaling Steamer Balaena . Of the 246 residents, 189 were Natives, 46 were White, one was Asian, and 10 were other races. This did not include nearby Point Barrow, which
2992-414: The 1980s and 200 wells by 2000. These activities resulted in dredging of about 46.5 million m3 of sea bottom soil, as well as discharge of drilling muds which contained barite , clay, caustic soda , and heavy metals zinc, copper, lead, chromium, cobalt, nickel, cadmium and mercury. About 50,400 m (1,780,000 cu ft) of oil was produced in 1986. A major gas field, named Taglu Gas Field ,
3080-576: The 1990s. The major settlements along the Beaufort Sea are Tuktoyaktuk (population 930 in 2009 ) in Canada and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska . Although Prudhoe Bay is permanently populated by only a few people, there are thousands of contract workers in the area employed on petroleum production at the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field , which is on the coastal lowland known as the North Slope . Artificial islands , such as Endicott and Northstar , have been raised near
3168-400: The 4,000 years old settlements. While originally they lived nomadic life, later, they started to form permanent settlements. Their population is increasing, but the unemployment rate is relatively high. Bowhead whales were hunted in the sea between 1888 and 1914. This practice stopped, first because of the decline in whale population and then because of government regulations, but resumed in
3256-566: The Arctic , the ice-free area in late summer greatly enlarged. During the record minimum extent of Arctic sea ice in September, 2012, the sea ice boundary had retreated northward much farther than normal from the coast. The channels of the Mackenzie River thaw earlier, in late May–early June. This thawing increases the average water discharge from about 150,000 to 250,000 m /s (5,300,000 to 8,800,000 cu ft/s). Hidden changes in
3344-406: The Beaufort Sea are clearly distinct from those of other Canadian and Alaskan waters, despite often sharing a common wintering habitat. The food chain of the Beaufort Sea is relatively simple: It starts with phytoplankton and epontic algae (single-cell algae associated with the lower interface of sea ice ), which provide energy to zooplankton, and epontic and coastal amphipods. The latter serve as
3432-651: The Beaufort Sea as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam MPA surrounds the Parry Peninsula in the Amundsen Gulf , and the Tarium Niryutait MPA is located at the Mackenzie River delta and estuary. The protected areas are set to protect species and habitats for the Inuvialuit community. The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Beaufort Sea as follows: On
3520-613: The Beaufort Sea is covered with tundra and marks the northern limit of the terrestrial range of the polar bear in North America. The Mackenzie River is an important habitat for whales and seabirds and is still relatively untouched by commercial traffic. The delta of Mackenzie River contains numerous lakes and ponds which are inhabited by muskrat . The sea hosts about 80 species of zooplankton , more than 70 species of phytoplankton , and nearly 700 species of polychaetes , bryozoans , crustaceans and mollusks , but their total volume
3608-546: The Earth's surface lies as far or farther from the equator as Utqiagvik. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 21 sq mi (54 km ), of which 3 sq mi (7.8 km ) are covered by water (14% of the total area). The predominant land type in Utqiagvik is tundra , which is formed over a permafrost layer that is as deep as 1,300 ft (400 m). Utqiagvik
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3696-463: The Mackenzie River, such as Herschel Island (4 km (2.5 mi) off the shore, area 18 km (6.9 sq mi)) and Barter Island (0.3 km (0.19 mi) from the coast, area 13 km (5.0 sq mi)). The coasts are low, with the maximum elevations between 250 and 750 m (820 and 2,460 ft). The soil is frozen all year around at the depth below about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) or less, forming permafrost , and only
3784-602: The North Slope Borough created the North Slope Higher Education Center. Renamed Iḷisaġvik College , it is an accredited two-year college providing education based on the Iñupiat culture and the needs of the North Slope Borough. The Tuzzy Consortium Library, in the Iñupiat Heritage Center , serves the communities of the North Slope Borough and functions as the academic library for Iḷisaġvik College. It
3872-618: The North. A line from Point Barrow , Alaska, to Lands End, Prince Patrick Island ( 76°16′N 124°08′W / 76.267°N 124.133°W / 76.267; -124.133 ). On the East. From Lands End through the Southwest coast of Prince Patrick Island to Griffiths Point, thence a line to Cape Prince Alfred, the Northwestern extreme of Banks Island , through its West coast to Cape Kellet,
3960-540: The Southwestern point, and thence a line to Cape Bathurst on the mainland ( 70°36′N 127°32′W / 70.600°N 127.533°W / 70.600; -127.533 ). There is an unresolved dispute involving a wedge-shaped slice on the International Boundary in the Beaufort Sea, between the Canadian territory of Yukon and the U.S. state of Alaska. Canada claims the maritime boundary to be along
4048-592: The U.S. nor Canada has pressed for a swift resolution for the matter, or arbitration at the International Court of Justice, however; and the two have in the meantime cooperated in several measures aimed at preserving the maritime environment. Before the end of 2004, the US leased eight plots of land below the water for oil exploration and exploitation, provoking a diplomatic protest from Canada. On 20 August 2009, United States Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced
4136-544: The US Bureau of Indian Affairs around 2003. They wrote a constitution and by-laws under the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934. An IRA corporation was also created. Utqiagvik was incorporated as a first-class city under the name Barrow in 1958. Natural gas lines were brought to the town in 1965, eliminating the need for traditional heating sources such as whale blubber. The Barrow Duck-In
4224-559: The US adopted a precautionary commercial fisheries management plan in August 2009. In April 2011, the Canadian government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Inuvialuit as a first step in developing a larger ocean management plan. The Canadian government announced in October 2014 that no new commercial fisheries in the Beaufort Sea will be considered until research has shown sustainable stocks that would be made available to Inuvialuit first. The Canadian government designated blocks of
4312-441: The amount decreasing each day during the first half of the polar night. On the winter solstice (around December 21 or December 22), civil twilight in Utqiagvik lasts 3 hours. After this, the amount of civil twilight increases each day to around 6 hours at the end of the polar night. Particularly cold weather usually begins in January, and February is generally the coldest month, averaging −11.9 °F (−24.4 °C). By March 1,
4400-502: The bone produced a 1.8 kya date (Yesner 1996b:255)". There is no evidence for anomalous occupation of Beaufort coasts in the context of Arctic cultures generally, including the arrival about 4,000 years ago by Paleo-Eskimos such as the Dorset culture , around 1,000 years ago by the Thule and finally by the modern Inuit . From early ages, they practiced fishing – bones of Arctic char were found at
4488-534: The city was 57.2% Alaska Native , 21.8% White , 9.4% Asian , 1.0% African American , 1.4% Pacific Islander , 0.7% from other races , 8.5% from two or more races , and 3.3% Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Of the 1,399 households, 56.5% had children under 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 not families. 23.0% of all households were individuals, and 1.8% had someone 65 or older living alone. The average household size
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#17330929396134576-505: The city's name was formally changed from Barrow to Utqiaġvik on December 1, 2016. City Council member Qaiyaan Harcharek said the name change supports the use of the Iñupiaq language and is part of a decolonization process. Another recorded Iñupiaq name is Ukpiaġvik ( IPA: [ukpi.ɑʁvik] ), which comes from ukpik " snowy owl " and is translated as "the place where snowy owls are hunted". A spelling variant of this name
4664-418: The clockwise-directed Beaufort Gyre , that results in south-westerly and westerly currents near the shores. The Mackenzie River partly affects this circulation inducing minor eastwards streams near its mouth. The river annually brings about 15 million tonnes of sediments which are rich in dolomite and calcium carbonate . Those deposits are spread over the sea and mixed with mud and gravel. The shoreline of
4752-623: The coast or nearby rivers and lakes. Utqiagvik is the headquarters of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation , one of the Alaska Native corporations set up following the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 to manage revenues and invest in development for their people in the region. Beaufort Sea The Beaufort Sea ( / ˈ b oʊ f ər t / BOH -fərt ; French : Mer de Beaufort )
4840-454: The coast out to a distance of 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi), following a line of equidistance from the coast. The equidistance principle argues that a nation's maritime boundaries should conform to a median line that is equidistant from the shores of neighbouring nations. This difference creates a wedge with an area of about 21,000 km (8,100 sq mi) that is claimed by both nations. Canada's position has its roots in
4928-462: The daily mean temperature rises above freezing, and the normal daily mean temperature remains above freezing until September 21. July is the year's warmest month, with an average temperature of 41.7 °F (5.4 °C). Beginning in mid-July, the Arctic Ocean is relatively ice-free until late October. The highest temperature recorded in Utqiagvik was 79 °F (26 °C) on July 13, 1993, while
5016-462: The day. October is usually the month with the heaviest snowfall, with measurable amounts occurring on over half the days and a 1991−2020 normal total accumulation of 10.3 in (26 cm). Sunlight is around 6 hours per day by the end of October. When the sun sets on November 18, it stays below the horizon until January 23, resulting in a polar night that lasts about 66 days. When the polar night starts, about 6 hours of civil twilight occur, with
5104-410: The delta of the Mackenzie River but nowhere exceeds 145 km (90 mi). Near the coast, the depths are shallower than 60 m (200 ft) but they rapidly increase northwards up to a few kilometers, transforming into a massive platform which is geologically similar to that of the oceans. There are many small islands in the sea and in the delta of the Mackenzie River. A few larger ones lie west of
5192-617: The disputed area covered a 21,436 square kilometres (8,276 sq mi) section of the Beaufort Sea. He wrote that Canada had filed a " diplomatic note " with the US in April when the USA first announced plans for the moratorium. Jack Layton , leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada , called the U.S. moratorium over the disputed waters in the Beaufort Sea the "largest encroachment on Canadian territory in our history." Several rivers such as
5280-813: The freezing point on an average of only 136 days per year, and 92 days have a maximum at or below 0 °F (−18 °C). Freezing temperatures and snowfall can occur during any month of the year. Regarding precipitation, Utqiagvik has a desert climate and averages less than 6 in (150 mm) "rainfall equivalent" per year. One inch of rain has an estimated water content equal to 12 in (30 cm) of snow. According to 1981−2010 normals, this includes 37 in (94 cm) of snow, compared to 99 in (250 cm) for Kuujjuaq in Nunavik , Quebec , or 87 in (220 cm) and 69 in (180 cm) for much warmer Juneau and Kodiak, Alaska , respectively. Even Sable Island , at around 44 degrees latitude and under
5368-407: The high reaches at least 50 °F (10 °C). Temperatures above 60 °F (16 °C) are rare but have been recorded in most years. Even in July and August, the low falls to or below the freezing mark on an average of 18 days. In addition to its low temperatures and polar night, Utqiagvik is one of the cloudiest places on Earth. Owing to the prevailing easterly winds off the Arctic Ocean, it
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#17330929396135456-467: The ice cover of the Beaufort Sea were discovered in 2009. Whereas the ice area remain stable, as detected by the observation satellites, so as the associated water temperature and salinity , the ice structure has changed recently. The new ice, called rotten ice , is thinner and much weaker structurally. The sea water has a stable temperature and is separated into four distinct layers as follows. The top 100 m (330 ft) are surface water which has
5544-429: The ice offshore. After a two-week rescue effort ( Operation Breakthrough ), a Soviet icebreaker freed two of the whales. Journalist Tom Rose details the rescue, and the media frenzy that accompanied it, in his 1989 book Freeing The Whales . The movie Big Miracle is based on the rescue and was released on February 3, 2012. Utqiagvik is roughly 1,300 mi (2,100 km) south of the North Pole . Only 2.6% of
5632-522: The influence of the Gulf Stream , received 44 in (110 cm), or 20 percent more snowfall than Utqiagvik. Snowfall in Utqiagvik has increased in recent years, with an average annual snowfall of 46 in (120 cm) according to the more recent 1991–2020 normals. The annual first snow (defined as snow that will not melt until the next spring) generally falls during the first week of October, when temperatures cease to rise above freezing during
5720-634: The lower atmosphere, as commonly happens in the interior between the Brooks and the Alaska ranges. Utqiagvik has the lowest average temperatures of cities in Alaska. Although Utqiagvik rarely records the lowest temperatures statewide during cold waves, extremely low wind chill and "white out" conditions from blowing snow are prevalent. Temperatures remain below freezing, 32 F (0 C), from early October through late May, and below 0 °F (−18 °C) from December through March. The high temperature reaches or tops
5808-429: The lowest was −56 °F (−49 °C) on February 3, 1924; the highest minimum was 56 °F (13 °C) on August 5, 2023, while the lowest maximum was −47 °F (−44 °C) on January 3, 1975. On average, during the 1991 to 2020 reference period, the coldest winter maximum was −29 °F (−34 °C) and the warmest summer minimum was 47 °F (8 °C). Utqiagvik records an average 26 days per year where
5896-492: 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 18 and 13.1% of those 65 and older. As of December 2022, the city's website says: "The largest city in the North Slope Borough, Utqiagvik, has 4,429 residents, of which approximately 61% are Iñupiat Eskimo." Utqiagvik
5984-409: The past." There is no widespread commercial fisheries in those waters now. The moratorium was imposed in anticipation that global warming would make those waters accessible to commercial fisheries. The moratorium stirred controversy in Canada because the region where the USA announced the moratorium included a large wedge-shaped region of disputed waters. Randy Boswell, of Canada.com wrote that
6072-440: The period between the 1950s and 1980s, and since the latter part of that period their exploration has become the major human activity in the area. The traditional occupations of fishing and whale and seal hunting are practiced only locally, and have no commercial significance. As a result, the sea hosts one of the largest colonies of beluga whales , and there is no sign of overfishing as of now. To prevent overfishing in its waters,
6160-478: The prior millenium, as well as to habitation. Thinner sea ice endangers the landing of bowhead whale strikes on offshore ice by springtime whalers. Caribou habitat is also affected while thawing soil threatens homes and municipal and commercial structures. The city's infrastructure is endangered, particularly water, sanitation, power, and road stability. The shoreline is rapidly eroding and has been encroaching on buildings for decades. According to Dr. Harold Wanless of
6248-451: The retail Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station. In the late 20th century, the building was used as Brower's Cafe. A United States Post Office was opened in 1901. In 1935, famous humorist Will Rogers and pilot Wiley Post made an unplanned stop at Walakpa Bay, 15 mi (24 km) south of Utqiagvik, en route to the city. As they took off again, their plane stalled and plunged into
6336-492: The said point of intersection, the said Meridian Line of the 141st degree, in its prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean Canada maintains that this treaty is extensible from the land into the Beaufort Sea along the meridian. The United States rejects this extension and instead asserts a boundary line based upon equidistance, although its position is somewhat undermined by its acceptance in 1867 of similar treaty wording and
6424-422: The sea is a major habitat of beluga whales with an estimated population of 39,000. This population is stable and might even be increasing; it is not affected by the offshore oil exploration in the area. Belugas spend summer in the coastal area and Mackenzie River delta, which are free of ice then, and in winter migrate long distances to the polynyas of the deep sea. Genetic analyses have confirmed that belugas of
6512-491: The shores in 1987 and 2001, respectively. The crude oil is transported through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to the southern port of Valdez . Fishing and sea hunting are practised by the local inhabitants and have no commercial value, especially after a US moratorium on commercial fishing of the Beaufort Sea, adopted in 2009. Trapping of muskrat at the Mackenzie River delta was the main source of income for
6600-475: The sun is up for 9 hours, and temperatures begin to warm, although winds are usually higher. Starting on March 23, astronomical night ceases to occur, with only daylight and twilight until the start of the midnight sun in May. This is also true from the end of the midnight sun at the beginning of August until September 22. April brings less extreme temperatures, with an average of 4.0 °F (−15.6 °C), and on April 1,
6688-475: The sun is up for more than 14 hours. By May 1, the sun is up for 19 hours, and by May 10 or 11 (depending on the year's relationship to the nearest leap year), the sun stays above the horizon for the entire day. This phenomenon is known as the midnight sun . The sun does not set for 83 days, until August 1 or 2 (again, depending on the year's relationship to the nearest leap year). In May, temperatures are much warmer, averaging 22.7 °F (−5.2 °C). On June 6,
6776-408: The top few tens of centimeters thaws in summer. Consequently, buildings have to be elevated above ground on wooden piles that are immersed into the permafrost. The Beaufort Sea is frozen over through the year, except for August and September when the ice breaks near the coast and opens what was once a 50–100 km (31–62 mi) wide strip of open water. During the 2000s, due to climate change in
6864-497: The year is limited, with the fall days being windiest. Extreme winds from 40 to 60 mph (64 to 97 km/h) have been recorded every month. Winds average 12 mph (19 km/h) and are typically from the east. See or edit raw graph data . The Arctic region is warming at a rate that is three times the global average, forcing major adjustments to life on the North Slope with regard to hunting and whaling practices over
6952-407: Was 3.35, and the average family size was 4.80. In Utqiagvik, the age distribution was 27.7% under 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 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
7040-456: Was 60.5% Alaskan Native, 16.2% White, 8.9% Asian, 8.1% from two or more races, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 2.3% Pacific Islander, and 0.9% African. In the census of 2000 , 4,683 persons, 1,399 households, and 976 families were reported living in the city. The population density was 249.0 inhabitants per square mile (96.1/km ). There were 1,620 housing units at an average density of 88.1 per square mile (34.0/km ). The racial makeup of
7128-573: Was a civil disobedience event that occurred in the spring of 1961. During the Duck-in, the Iñupiat protested a federal hunting ban on ducks, which threatened their livelihood and access to food security. The residents of the North Slope were the only Native people to vote on the acceptance of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ; they rejected it. The Act was passed in December 1971 and, despite their opposition, became law. The Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation
7216-415: Was a separate community. In 1900, the community reported again as "Cape Smythe Settlements". In 1910, it first reported as Barrow and did so in every successive census to 2010. The community formally incorporated in 1959. The native name Utqiagvik was adopted in 2016 and was used in the 2020 census. In the 2010 United States Census , 4,212 persons were reported living in the city. The city's racial makeup
7304-547: Was adopted by the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation when it was established in 1973. Archaeological sites in the area indicate the Iñupiat lived around Utqiagvik as far back as 500 AD. Remains of 16 sod dwelling mounds , from the Birnirk culture of about 800 AD, can be seen on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Located on a slight rise above the high-water mark, they risk being lost to erosion. Bill Streever, who chairs
7392-557: Was derived from Point Barrow and was originally a general designation because non-native Alaskan residents found it easier to pronounce than the Inupiat name. Point Barrow was named after Sir John Barrow of the British Admiralty by explorer Frederick William Beechey in 1825. A U.S. post office was established in 1901, which helped the name "Barrow" to become dominant. Following a referendum approved by residents on October 6, 2016,
7480-538: Was discovered in 1984, and is estimated to contain 37.3 km (8.9 cu mi) of oil and 38,500 km (9,200 cu mi) of gas. The development of these fields is hindered by their remote location. This problem was alleviated for Prudhoe Bay by constructing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, but is limiting regular commercial production at Mackenzie River deposits. For example, the Amauligak Project
7568-467: Was discovered in the Mackenzie River delta in 1971, followed by the Parson Lake field and Niglintgak field. The estimated gas reserves of these fields are 58,600 km (14,100 cu mi), 35,400 and 13,600 km (8,500 and 3,300 cu mi), respectively. Moreover, further into the sea from the Mackenzie delta lies the Amauligak field. This, the largest known oil deposit of the Beaufort Sea,
7656-400: Was named after Evelyn Tuzroyluk Higbee, an influential community leader. Utqiagvik, like many communities in Alaska, has enacted a "damp" law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages. However, the import, possession, and consumption of such beverages are still allowed. In 1988, Utqiagvik became the center of worldwide media attention when three California gray whales became trapped in
7744-506: Was started soon after the discovery of the field. In September 1985, the tanker Gulf Beaufort has transported 50,300,000 L (316,377 bbl) of crude oil to Japan, which was the first shipment of oil from the Arctic deposits. However, the project has stalled after that. In July 2017, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved a plan to allow Eni , an Italian multinational oil and gas company, to drill four oil exploration wells on Spy Island, one of four artificial islands in
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