|
The
Nome census area,
which includes St.
Lawrence Island and
Little Diomede Island
in the Bering Sea,
covers over 23,000
square miles of land
and is home to over
9000 residents. The
Nome census area
is a well-established
tourism destination;
an estimated 10,000
visitors appear annually
as a direct result
of tourism1.
The city of Nome
is the largest community
and serves as the
transportation hub
for the region. Visitors
to the Bering Strait
region can enjoy
wildlife, Native
culture and gold
rush history during
the summer months,
and in the winter,
the Iditarod Sled
Dog Race attracts
thousands of visitors
from around the world
to watch mushers
cross the finish
line of the famed
1049-mile race. |
|
|
|
Popular
tourist activities
in Nome often include
use of the three
state roads in the
region,
all of which originate
in Nome: Teller Highway,
Council Road and
Kougarok Road. Though
often
impassable by car
in the winter months,
these 250 miles of
road are the sole
routes
to many of the Bering
Strait region's smaller
villages, recreational
opportunities and sporting
activities. They are
an increasingly popular
tourism draw, allowing
the tourists to freely
engage in bird watching,
hiking, fishing, etc.
without the constraints
that tour groups often
encounter. These roads
also provide Nome's
residents with necessary
routes for subsistence
activities throughout
the year.
Cruise
ship tourism is also
an important factor
in Nome's economy; the Port
of Nome's secondary
use is as a port
of call
for expedition-class
cruise ships. |
These
small ships often attract
visitors interested in
culture, wildlife and adventure,
as their routes typically
cross the northern Pacific
Ocean to include the coasts
of Alaska, Russia and Japan.
Popular itineraries may
also involve stops on St.
Lawrence and Little Diomede
Islands.
Other
activities in the Bering
Strait region often relate
to the rich cultural
history of the area and
the strong
presence of Native cultures.
Local festivals that
demonstrate cultural traditions
are
popular in the summer
months throughout many
of the
region's communities. In
Nome, examples of some
festivals include the Midnight
Sun Festival in June, celebrating
the summer solstice and
22 hours of daylight, and
the Poor Man's Paradise
event in which contestants
competitively pan for gold.
The Bering Strait Region
is also known for its Native
arts and crafts industry.
Some of the more popular
products offered include
ivory carvings, skin boots,
beading and masks. World
renowned for its gold rush
history, visitors to Nome
also have the opportunity
to visit abandoned gold
dredges, take a picture
next to the country's
largest gold pan (18
feet high)
or even try panning for
gold.
1 (Nome
Transportation study
Land Design North report
p.6). Location
Nome
lies on the southern coast
of the Seward Peninsula
in the Bering Strait Region.
Situated 102 miles south
of the Arctic Circle, 161
miles east of Russia and
a 75-minute flight from
Anchorage, Nome is considered
a gateway to much of Alaska's
untamed beauty and wildlife.
Additionally, Nome is the
originating point for three
major state roads: Teller
Highway, Council Road and
Kougarok Road. These 250
miles of road were originally
constructed to provide
access to villages, subsistence
resources and mines; however,
their popularity in recent
years has grown due to
the recreational freedom
they provide for tourists.
Nome is inaccessible by
any outside roads but does
receive daily jet service
from Anchorage. Additional
Resources
|
