Official Language:
English
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Currency:
USD
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Population:
Approximately 3000 people call Kotzebue home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Kotzebue: Kotzebue is located in the transitional climate zone,bringing cold winters and cool summers. The average low temperature during January is -12°F/-24°C; the average high during July is 58°F/14°C. The annual precipitation is 9 inches per year. Kotzebue Sound is ice-free from early July until early October.
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Kotzebue, a city approximately 26 miles above the Arctic Circle and approximately three miles long and 1,100 to 3,600 feet wide. Kotzebue is located high above the Arctic Circle in northwestern Alaska. Kotzebue is actually closer to Russia (200 miles away) than Fairbanks (over 400 miles away). Kotzebue has served as an Inupiat Eskimo trading center for centuries. Eskimos account for over 80% of the population of this town. During the season of midnight sun, or in winter the sun does not rise for 36 days. Kotzebue celebrates its Inupiat heritage with traditional dance, crafts and sports. The town is the hub of commerce, culture and outdoor activity for the northwestern Arctic region. The Noatak, Kobuk and Selawik rivers flow into the sound near Kotzebue. This allows boat traffic to carry cargo and residents into the valleys. Kotzebue is also the center of air traffic for the region.
The northwest Arctic is a haven for wildlife. Birders come with binoculars to see the migratory waterfowl. In this flat area, the Inupiat Eskimos devised their own way of seeing: the blanket toss. The blanket toss is where a group flings an observer high into the air to look for walrus, whales or other game. Chum salmon are important to the subsistence lifestyle. The large herds of caribou are just as important. Musk oxen, bears and smaller mammals also live in the area. During the summer, waterfowl and other migratory birds arrive by the millions to nest in the thousands of lakes and ponds located on the tundra and river deltas.
Kotzebue, the service and transportation center for all villages in the northwest region has a very healthy cash economy. It also has a growing private sector, and a stable public sector. Activities related to oil and minerals exploration and development have contributed to the economy here in Kotzebue. The majority of income is related to government employment. That would include the School District, Maniilaq Association, the City and Borough.
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Attractions |
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NANA Museum of the Arctic:
This museum provides visitors with native dancing presentations, slide shows, native arts and crafts as well as interesting survival skills demonstrations. ((907) 442-3747)
The local cemetery:
Graves here are decorated lavishly with artificial flowers. There are spirit houses over some.
Kotzebue Parks:
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge
Bering Land Bridge National Park
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More Information |
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Web: http://kotzpdweb.tripod.com/city/
http://www.northernalaska.com/
http://www.tour-arctic.com/
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