Popular Misconceptions About Alaska

"The farther north you go the colder it gets."

The Arctic Region is warmed by heat from the ocean radiated through floating ice. Thousands of square miles of Alaska lowland are colder than Point Barrow.

"Alaska is a frigid land of ice and snow."

At Fairbanks, some 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle, it is sometimes 100 degreesin the shade. The average snowfall in Artic lowlands is less than the average in Virginia. Luxuriant vegetation and mildness of climate have caused several regions of Alaska to be referred to as the "banana belt".

"Eskimos live in ice houses."

The Eskimo word iglu means building and refers in Alaska to a house of earth and wood. Snow houses are occasionally built for emergency use on the trail, but are never used as permanent dwellings. Most Eskimos have never seen an 'igloo' in the sense that those in the lower 48 have come to think of domed ice houses.

"Alaska's many glaciers indicate a cold climate."

Glaciers can form only in relative warm climates with high mountains and heavy parcipitation. Glaciers are found only in Alaska's warmer areas.

"Nothing green grows in Alaska."

Alaska contains about 385,000 square miles of well-developed forest, about 65,000 square miles of land suitable to agriculture and about 35,000 square miles of grazing-land. Cabbages, potatoes and other hardy vegetables flourish far north of the Arctic Circle. Roses, lilacs, peonies, lilies, honeysuckle and many varieties of bushes and berries grow profusely.

"There is continuous darkness for three or four months in the Arctic."

The Arctic is never in total darkness because of the reflection of light from below the horizon and the bright moon light on the snow.

"Gold mining is the principal industry of Alaska."

Fishing is the most important industry exceeding in annual value of product both mining and fur-taking.

"Totem poles can be found in every Eskimo village."

Totem poles are found primarily in southesatern Alaska and are created by the Tingit Indians. You will not find totem poles in any Eskimo villages.

"The Klondike is in Alaska."

The Klondike gold-mining area is in Yukon Territory, Canada.

Contact:   Everette Carr
Nome Census Area Coordinator