Barrow, AK is a land of extremes. It is the northernmost community in the United States, about 300 miles from the nearest highway system. The distance from Anchorage, AK to Barrow, AK is about the same as the distance from Pittsburgh, PA to Jacksonville, FL. Yes, Alaska is a very big state!
Because it is well above the Arctic Circle, Barrow boasts 85 continuous days of daylight during the summer. During the winter, the sun doesn't rise for two months. Fortunately, I (Brent) worked in Barrow in June. This picture was taken at 2:06am on June 10th!
This next picture is the frozen Arctic Ocean in the background and a whaling vessel in the foreground. It is my understanding that a raised flag signifies a successful whaling season for that captain.
If you look carefully, you will notice that these palm trees are not really palm trees at all, but are in fact pieces of driftwood with whale baleen (filtering structures in the mouth of most whales) attached to the top of them. The closest tree to Barrow is approximately 200 miles away!
If you look carefully, you will notice that these palm trees are not really palm trees at all, but are in fact pieces of driftwood with whale baleen (filtering structures in the mouth of most whales) attached to the top of them. The closest tree to Barrow is approximately 200 miles away!
We had a few blustery days while we were in Barrow. It is often windy, and the temperature only gets above freezing about 100 days of the year. Drifting snow across a road is not something I was expecting to encounter in June, but as the picture below illustrates, when in Barrow, expect the unexpected. After visiting there in June, I can hardly imagine living there during the winter.
2:06 am? People must wear night shades so they can sleep. Thanks for once again bringing this "new" land alive for us. Great job!
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