Surrounded by the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and the Arctic Ocean, the northernmost city in North America is the small town of Utqiagvik. It is a place that is far, far away from the rest of the world. The only way in (or out) is by plane or boat and the extreme isolation can cause you to go stir crazy if you aren't careful. In fact, when the sun goes beneath the horizon line for two months in the wintertime, you'll have a hard time keeping track of time. Surviving the cold temps, extreme isolation, and darkness in Alaska is not easy and that is why living in Utqiagvik is truly only for the toughest in the crowd.
Located 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle is the tiny town of Utqiagvik, Alaska.
This northernmost city in the U.S. is also home to the largest Inupiat Eskimo community in the world.
Only 5.3% of the earth's surface lays as far from the equator as Utqiagvik. In fact, Utqiagvik is the only U.S. city in North America that has an antipodal point on uninhabited dry land.
The town of Utqiagvik has a population of somewhere around 4,500 year-round residents in total.
This incredibly isolated town is surrounded by wilderness and is not accessible by road. Life in Utqiagvik, Alaska isn’t for the fainthearted.
If you want to visit, you'll need to arrive by plane or boat.
If you want to go any further north than Utqiagvik, you'll need to travel 1,300 miles to the North Pole.
The arctic climate in Utqiagvik comes at a chilly price. The average temperature in the summer is just 40 degrees. In fact, temps that are above the freezing line only happen about 120 days per year.
There are even a whopping 160 days of sub-0 °F temps per year. You heard that right... over 5 MONTHS of sub-0 temps.
Sunsets on the beach mean something a little different in this northern city. In late November the sun sets below the horizon and doesn't come up again until late January.
Because Utqiagvik has a treeless ecosystem made up of primarily tundra, some comedians in town have planted some fake palm trees to offer a good laugh for visitors and locals alike. The tundra in and around Utqiagvik is formed by a permafrost layer that can be as much as 1,300 feet deep.
For fun, many of the locals participate in boat races. Kids also play sports on the famous blue and yellow turf at Cathy Parker Field.
Utqiagvik is the economic hub of the North Slope Borough, with the major industry being oil and gas.
The midnight sun attracts the tourism industry as well. The wildlife viewing in the area primarily consists of marine life such as whales, seals, polar bears, and walruses.
Because of Utqiagvik's isolated location, most locals rely on subsistence based living practices to survive. The cost to ship food in is incredibly expensive, so hunting and fishing in the ocean and surrounding lakes and rivers is a necessary means to survive in Utqiagvik.
In town, don't be surprised if you find giant whale head skulls displayed as a symbol of tradition, culture and survival. It might be graphic to outsiders, but in Barrow it is simply a way of life.
More so than anything, Utqiagvik is a community rich in family, culture, and an appreciation for living a truly simplistic Alaskan lifestyle. It's not for everyone, but those that live here love it and appreciate their slower pace of life.
For a closer look into what life is like living in the northernmost city in the U.S, check out the short YouTube clip below from the 'One Square Mile' documentary. Do you think you could handle the isolation of living in Utqiagvik?
https://youtu.be/7iH5xJFy49A
If you think Utqiagvik is a wild place, check out this spooky small town in Alaska that could be right out of a horror movie. If you love rural living outside of the city, you'll want to visit these 17 tiny towns in Alaska where everyone knows your name.
There are so many unique things about Alaska. One of them is the geographically interesting land right outside this town. Learn more about the area outside of Utqiagvik, and read about some of the oldest foothills in the world, which are found right here in Alaska.
And, if you're feeling especially proud to be an Alaskan resident, check out these unique apparel from Wear Your Roots!
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