"Barrow, Alaska: Northernmost City in North America" Top 5 Page for this destination Barrow by Stephen-KarenConn

Barrow Travel Guide: 93 reviews and 142 photos

Barrow, Alaska: Northernmost City in North America - Barrow

Situated 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Barrow is the northernmost incorporated city in North America and the largest Inupiat Eskimo community in the world. It is the seat of government for the North Slope Borough, and serves as regional center for the sparsely populated 89,000-square-mile borough - the largest municipality on earth. In land area the North Slope is larger than the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania combined.

Welcome to Barrow, or Utqiagvia

Barrow was called Utqiagvik by it its Inupiat founders, meaning "The place where we hunt snowy owls." Because of its key location at the junction of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas on the Arctic Ocean, Barrow became an important whaling site. The town remains a center of subsistence whaling and harvesting of other land and water species.

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The Main Street of Downtown Barrow

The City has a population of around 4,500 people, unconnected to any other community by road. Within the 21-square-mile city limits are 28 miles of roadway, none of them paved. There are three distinct areas of settlement: the traditional Inupiat community of Barrow, the former Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL), and portions of the former Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line station.

This is the high arctic, a true land of contrasts. Although considered a desert, with less than five inches of precipitation per year, summer finds the ground covered with ponds and puddles of water because melting snow cannot penetrate the permanently frozen ground below. Also in summer the "Midnight Sun" does not dip below the horizon for 82 consecutive days. In winter the sun will not appear for 64 days. Yet even in winter Barrow is not completely dark because the northern lights dance across the sky and light from the moon and stars illuminates the snow with an unbelievable brightness.

Last visit to Barrow: Aug 2004
Intro Updated Jul 28, 2005
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Reviews (24)

Bearded Seal Skin Whaling Boat and Frame - Barrow

Bearded Seal Skin Whaling Boats Local Customs (3)

When the ice first breaks in summer several species of whale migrate near the shoreline at Barrow. This bearded seal... more travel advice

Watch for Polar Bears Warnings and Dangers (1)

Polar Bears are the largest land carnivore on earth, and are the only bear which is known to stalk and hunt man. These... more travel advice

The Fashionable Miss Top of the World & Friend - Barrow

Arctic High Fashion Local Customs (3)

Barrow's reigning "Miss Top of the World" and a young friend are seen here modeling winter wear at the Inupiat Heritage... more travel advice

Barrow National Forest Favorites (4)

There are no trees in the Arctic, but someone in Barrow has a sense of humor. These three "palm trees" stand near the... more travel advice

Sports & Outdoors (1)
Join the Polar Bear Club
Things to Do (5)
See All Wading in the Arctic Ocean
Hotels (4)
See All My free night in Barrow

Comments (33)

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armpit22 Nov 22, 2009 at 12:24 PM

seems kind of expensive. I just had two eggs,home fries, scrapple. orange juice, toast and coffee for 4.95. Very good too
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Ericasmurf99 Jan 29, 2009 at 7:39 AM

Great Barrow page. We are moving to Anchorage this summer and Barrow is def on our "must do" list. :)
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salmonhunter77 May 21, 2008 at 9:52 AM

Your Barrow information is truly amazing. Many thanks
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matcrazy1 Jan 5, 2007 at 6:18 AM

Excellent page. Imaiqsaun Cemetary looks great. Haha, whenever I go to Barrow I'll try to become the next Polar Bear Club member :-)
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ian-uk Aug 7, 2006 at 7:11 AM

Great page on Barrow Alaska, from Ian in Barrow UK
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RickinDutch Aug 1, 2006 at 10:14 AM

Excellent Barrow page!! Spent an afternoon there stuck indoors at a meeting. Meeting ran over sked and we just rushed back to the airport. Need to return.
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yelli Apr 28, 2006 at 2:25 PM

wading in the arctic ocean! Hm, maybe only a few degrees colder than Barton Springs here in Austin... :)
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victorwkf Mar 8, 2006 at 4:57 AM

Wonderful information & photos of Barrow! Did not reach this far north when I was in alaska, only managed to reach anaktuvuk pass :)
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arcticpreacher Aug 6, 2005 at 1:25 PM

Great Barrow page! I have never been there, but would love to sometime.
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easyoar Jul 2, 2005 at 2:43 AM

Excellent page! So you missed out on being Parson (and on sleeping in the lobby!). I loved the forest and the whalebone arch!