Wales is located on the western tip of the seward Peninsula on the coast of Cape Prince of Wales. It is 7 miles west of tin city and 111 miles northwest of Nome. Both scheduled and charter air service from Nome serve the community. Wales' population is 143. The zip code is 99783.
Wales is 25 feet above sea level. Wales maritime climate when the Bering Sea is ice free, usually June through November. Freezing of the sea causes an abrupt change to a cold continental climate. Winter is cold and windy; temperatures average between -10° and 6°F and wind chill temperatures are much lower. Summer temperatures average between 40° and 50°F. Mean annual precipitation is 11 inches and mean annual snowfall is 41 inches.
There is an airstrip 1 mile northwest. Its elevation is 25 feet and the gravel runway is 2,600 feet in length. The airstrip is unattended. Frequent fog, wind and occasional blizzards limit access to Wales. Public transportation to the village is available.
Arts and crafts available to purchase include carved walrus ivory, moccasins, Eskimo dolls, mukluks and knitted caps, gloves and socks. Moorage on the beach.
Cape Prince of Wales is the farthest west point of mainland Alaska; 2,289-foot Cape Mountain which rises above Wales is the terminus of the Continental Divide separating the Arctic and Pacific water sheds. The Wales area has been inhabited for centuries; archaeological evidence dates back to 500 A.D. A burial mound of the Birnirk culture (500 A.D. to 900 A.D.) was discovered behind the present village and is now a national historic landmark.
In historical times, the villages of Eidamoo near the coast and King-a-ghe farther inland were noted in 1827 by Capt. Beechy of the Imperial Russian Navy. In 1880, Capt. E. E. Smith of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service reported Kingigamute, meaning "the high place." With a population of 400. In 1890, the American Missionary Assoc. established a mission here and in 1894 a reindeer station was organized. Wales was incorporated as a second-class city in 1964.
Wales was a major center for Whale hunting due to its strategic location on the animals' migratory route until the 1918-19 worldwide influenze epidemic claimed the lives of many of Wales' fines whalers. The village retains a strong Eskimo culture; ancient songs and dances are still performed and customs practiced.
The economy of Wales is based on subsistence hunting and fishing, trapping, some mining, and Native arts and crafts. Wales artisans make excellent ivory carvings, especially birds, which are sold locally or marketed in Nome, Anchorage or Fairbanks. Other crafts, such as skin sewing bring additional income to the community. There is some trapping of fox and wolverine. A private reindeer herd of about 1,500 head is managed out of wales and local residents are employed during roundup. A few jobs are provided by the city, store, clinic, airlines, school and Native Corporation.
The mining potential is great in the area. Tin placers located nearby have estimated reserves of 2,000 tons of tin. Gold also is plentiful in the region.
Vast herds of walrus and whales migrate through Bering Strait and villages hunt them from early April to the end of June. Ice cellars are used to store and preserve the meat. Polar bear, moose, waterfowl, salmon, ptarmigan, tomcod and flounder supplement local diets, alng with berries and various greens.
In Wales, the visitor will get a glimpse of Eskimo life relatively unaffected by outside contact. During the summer, Wales is a base for residents of Little Diomede Island and these Eskimos often can be seen traveling to and from their island in the large traditional skin boats. Air service and tours to Wales are available out of Nome.
The city has established the George Otenna Museum in the community center, City of Wales, Wales, Alaska 99783. The local history museum features contemporary arts and crafts, as well as Eskimo artifacts and the history of Wales and the surrounding area.
Activities in Wales include the annual Fourth of July celebration with games for all ages, community feasts on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and competitive indoor games for men's and women's teams from December 26 to December 31 each year. The city also had plans to intitiate an annual celebration on its incoporation date, April 16.
Winter trails connect Wales to Tin City and the interior of the Seward Peninsula. A tractor trail also runs to Tin City.
Communications in Wales include phones, mail plane, radio and TV. The community is served by a Luthern church and the Wales-Kingikme School with grades kindergarten through 9; older students go to boarding schools in other communities. There is a community electricity system. Water is hauled from Village and Gilbert Creeks in summer and ice blocks are cut in winter. Sewage system is honey buckets. Freight arrives by ship, barge and plane.
