| Community
Information Originally
the site of a Yu'pik
village and trading
post for the Alaska
Commercial Company,
Bethel is now the largest
community within the
Lower Kuskokwim region
and the transportation
hub for the area. Bethel's
economy is predominantly
based on commercial
salmon fishing, tourism
and mining. The region
has a rich Native history
and culture, with the
Yu'pik language still
widely spoken in many
villages. Subsistence
living, an important
tradition for the Yu'pik
and Cu'pik cultures,
is still widely practiced
and a major aspect
of residents' lives.
The
Lower Kuskokwim region
is home to the Yukon
Delta National Wildlife
Refuge, a 20-million
acre terrain filled with
lakes, rivers, and abundant
wildlife. It is the largest
wildlife refuge in the
United States, and is
a haven for bird watching,
wildlife viewing and
sport fishing. |
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Bethel
is also home to the Kuskokwim
300 Sled Dog Race, a premier
middle-distance race that
follows a trail along the
Kuskokwim River. The event,
which brings in residents
from surrounding communities,
as well as mushers from
around the world, has expanded
into a celebratory weekend
that includes fireworks,
music and an awards ceremony.
This race is frequented
by many of the Iditarod
race teams, and is held
in mid-January.
Activities
for visitors in the region
range from sporting to
adventure to cultural.
Sport fishing is one of
the most popular and easily
accessible, as the Kanektok,
Aniak and Goodnews rivers
all contain prominent sport
fisheries. The Eskimo culture
of the region is also an
attraction in itself for
tourists; the Yugtarvik
Cultural Center in Bethel
houses cultural museum
exhibits for visitors,
and the annual, three-day
Camai Festival in Bethel
celebrates the Yup'ik tradition
of dance and reflects on
the indigenous traditions
and customs. Nunivak Island,
located 30 miles off the
coast in the Bering Sea,
offers opportunities for
wildlife viewing, hiking,
sea kayaking and cultural
tours. Nunivak is a volcanic
island whose first known
inhabitants date back to
500 B.C., and is presently
home to a wide variety
of marine wildlife and
waterfowl.
Location
The
Bethel Census Area covers
over 41,000 square miles
of the Yukon-Kuskokwim
Delta. The town of Bethel
is the transportation hub
for the region. Bethel
sits near the mouth of
the Kuskokwim River, 40
miles inland from the Bering
Sea and 464 air miles from
Anchorage. Bethel's roads
do not connect to surrounding
areas.
Additional
Resources
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