Seward Peninsula
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Berengia_-_present_day.png)
The Seward Peninsula is a large peninsula on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska whose westernmost point is Cape Prince of Wales. The peninsula projects about 200 mi (320 km) into the Bering Sea between Norton Sound, the Bering Strait, the Chukchi Sea, and Kotzebue Sound, just below the Arctic Circle. The entire peninsula is about 210 mi (330 km) long and 90–140 mi (145–225 km) wide. Like Seward, Alaska, it was named after William H. Seward, the United States Secretary of State who fought for the U.S. purchase of Alaska.
The Seward Peninsula is a remnant of the
Demographics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Tarns_in_Kigluaik_Mts.%2C_Seward_Peninsula.jpg/170px-Tarns_in_Kigluaik_Mts.%2C_Seward_Peninsula.jpg)
Most of the peninsula is in the
City | Population |
---|---|
Nome | 3,508 |
Shishmaref | 581 |
Buckland | 434 |
Koyuk | 350 |
Brevig Mission | 327 |
Elim | 302 |
Teller | 263 |
White Mountain | 224 |
Wales | 151 |
Golovin | 150 |
Deering | 139 |
Other locations on the Seward Peninsula include the mining towns of
Geography and ecology
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Bering_Land_Bridge_Preserve_95.jpg/220px-Bering_Land_Bridge_Preserve_95.jpg)
The Seward Peninsula has several distinct geologic features. The
Several geothermal hot springs are located throughout the peninsula, including
The Seward Peninsula has several rivers. The largest include the Koyuk, Kuzitrin, Niukluk, Fish, Tubuktilik, Kiwalik, Buckland and Agiupuk rivers. These play a vital role in the subsistence lifestyles of many peninsula residents and ease travel, hunting, and fishing. Most peninsula rivers have at least a small yearly run of several varieties of salmon, as well as Dolly Varden trout, Arctic grayling, whitefish of various species, northern pike, and burbot. Most rivers on the Seward Peninsula freeze in mid-October; spring break-up usually occurs in mid- to late May.
The Seward Peninsula is the westernmost limit of distribution for the black spruce, Picea mariana, a dominant overstory species of the region.
Alaska's reindeer herding was concentrated on the Seward Peninsula ever since the first shipment of reindeer were imported there from eastern Siberia in 1892.[6] It was believed that migrating caribou could be prevented from mingling with the domesticated reindeer on the Peninsula because of the geography of the peninsula, thereby avoiding loss of reindeer that might wander off with caribou.[6][7] However, in 1997 the domesticated reindeer joined the Western Arctic Caribou Herd on their summer migration and disappeared.[8]
The peninsula was named after William H. Seward, the United States Secretary of State who negotiated the Purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.
References
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- ^ Cultural Resources in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
- ^ "U.S. and Russia introduce visa-free travel for Chukotka and Alaska". Russia Beyond. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Alaska Community Database Community Information Summary Archived 2007-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rozell, Ned. Volcanoes, permafrost, earthquakes shape Alaska Alaska Science Forum.
- S2CID 140184616.
- ^ a b Bucki, Carrie (2004), "Reindeer History in Alaska", Reindeer Roundup, Fairbanks, Alaska: Reindeer Research Program, retrieved 5 September 2014
- ^ "The Seward Peninsula". Fairbanks, Alaska: Natural Resources and Extension Program, University of Alaska. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ Querengesser, Tim (26 October 2009), "The Curse of the Deer", Maisonneuve.org, retrieved 19 April 2014
- ^ Halpin, Tony (2011-08-20). "Russia plans $65bn tunnel to America". The Sunday Times.