Page 159 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

ALASK A AREA B Y AREA  157

WESTERN INTERIOR

ALASKA

The landscape of the sparsely populated Western Interior
is covered with boreal forest, muskeg, taiga, and lakes.
Dominated by a continental climate that creates the state’s
greatest climatic extremes, the region enjoys long summer
days with almost round-the-clock sunlight and dramatic
storms, and long, cold winter nights illuminated by the
undulating colors of the aurora borealis.

This territory was first settled by Native fluctuating fortunes and population,
Athabaskan peoples who, despite its when huge military bases were set up
exceedingly harsh environment, found to counter the Japanese threat (see p59).
it a region rich in wildlife and capable There was another growth spurt in
of providing meat for food, and skins the 1970s when Fairbanks was chosen
for clothing and shelter during the as the logistical headquarters of the
bitterly cold winters. While much of Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
the land is deemed unproductive by Across the heart of the region stretches
modern definitions, the first Europeans the massive Alaska Range, crowned
in the area, like the Athabaskans by Denali. Located within the popular
before them, managed to eke out Denali National Park, the peak is now
a living in these bleak and difficult the area’s main draw. Denali and various
conditions. These pio neers, including state parks provide excellent hiking and
early 20th-century prospectors near wildlife viewing. Winter activities range
Fairbanks, built up a semblance from Nordic skiing to soaking in hot
of civilization in what was then springs and viewing the aurora. Attractive
considered the country’s last frontier. towns, including Fairbanks, Alaska’s
By the 1920s, engineers were using second-largest city, historic gold
dredges to exploit deep seams of gold dredges, and whitewater rafting all
after placer gold (see p57) started to play combine to draw steadily increasing
out. World War II boosted the region’s numbers of visitors.

Brilliant aurora borealis undulating across the sky
A Riverboat Discovery cruise on the Chena River near Fairbanks

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