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| Location: | Barrow, the northernmost community in North America, is located on the Chukchi Sea coast, 10 miles south of Point Barrow from which it takes its name. It lies 725 air miles from Anchorage. |
| History: | Archaeological sites in the area indicate habitation from 500 to 900 A.D. Inupiat traditionally depend on subsistence marine mammal hunting, supplemented by inland hunting and fishing. Archaeological remains of sixteen dwelling mounds from the Birnirk culture exist today. Barrow was named for Sir John Barrow, 2nd Secretary of the British Admiralty. Barrow's Eskimo name is known as Ukpeagvik (place where owls are hunted.) In 1881, the U.S. Army established a meteorological and magnetic research station near Barrow. The Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station was constructed here in 1893. A Presbyterian Church was established in 1899, and a post office was opened in 1901. Exploration of the Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 4 (now National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, NPR-A) began in 1946. The Naval Arctic Research Laboratory, 3 miles north of Barrow, soon followed. The City was incorporated in 1958. Formation of the North Slope Borough in 1972, the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and construction of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and Trans-Alaska Pipeline have each contributed to the development of Barrow. Today, tax revenues from the North Slope oil fields fund borough-wide services. |
| Culture: | Nalukatag/Whaling Festival (June); Kivgiq Dance (January); Piuraagiaqta/Spring Festival (April) |
| Climate: | The climate of Barrow is arctic. Precipitation is light, averaging 5 inches, with annual snowfall of 20 inches. Temperatures range from -56 to 78, averaging 40 during summer. The sun does not set between May 10th and August 2nd each summer, and does not rise between Nov. 18th and January 24th each winter. The daily minimum temperature is below freezing 324 days of the year. Prevailing winds are easterly and average 12 MPH. The Chukchi Sea is typically ice free from mid-June through October. |
| Latitude: | 71d 17m N |
| Longitude: | 71d 17m N |
| Visitor Attractions: | Wiley Post Will Rogers Monument; Arctic Ocean; Point Barrow; Cape Smythe Whaling Station; Birnirk archaeological site |
| Cultural Events: | Nalukatag/Whaling Festival (June); Kivgiq Dance (January); Piuraagiaqta/Spring Festival (April) |
| Contact Organization: | City of Barrow |
| E-mail: | CityClerk@barrow.com |
| Contact Name: | Jim Vorderstrasse |
| Title: | Mayor |
| Street: | P.O. Box 629 |
| City: | Barrow |
| State: | AK |
| Zip: | 99723 |
| Phone: | 907-852-5211 |
| Fax: | 907-852-5871 |
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Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association (AWRTA)
2207 Spenard Road, Suite 202, Anchorage, Alaska 99503
TEL: (907) 258-3171 | FAX: (907) 258-3851 | EMAIL
© AWRTA. All Rights Reserved.
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