Alaska has many claims to fame, from the tallest mountain in North America to being the largest and most uninhabited place in the United States. With permafrost that is thousands of years old covering much of arctic and interior Alaska, it’s no surprise that the last frontier is also home to the coldest place on planet earth (or at least in North America). Read more to learn about this positively unique place that is isolated, yet right off the road system.
The tiny town of Prospect Creek, Alaska is home to the U.S. record low temperature of −80 °F which occurred on January 23, 1971.
Flickr - Travis
With its isolated location just below the Arctic Circle, this bewildering statistic is really not all that alarming or surprising.
Wikipedia
The elevation of Prospect Creek is just about 643 feet above sea level.
Flickr - soleclin22
Located at mile 135 off the James Dalton Highway, Prospect Creek has a subarctic climate and has consistently been home to some of the coldest winters in U.S. history.
Flickr - Terry Feuerborn
The closest major city to Prospect Creek is Fairbanks, which is roughly 180 miles south of the tiny settlement town.
Flickr - Paul Weeks
However the small city of Coldfoot (population 10) is just 31 miles northeast of Prospect Creek and is the closest option for food, groceries or supplies.
Flickr - FairbanksMike
Prospect Creek is also roughly 25 miles southeast of the town of Bettles, which has a population of 12 residents.
Wikipedia - Steve Hillebrand, US Fish & Wildlife Service
This tiny sliver of an area actually has immense history. In 1974, a full base camp was set up in Prospect Creek to house around 27,000 people working on the Trans Alaskan Pipeline.
Wikipedia - Dennis Cowals, 1945-, Photographer
However, just a handful of years later, in 1977 when the pipeline was completed, the entire camp became a relative ghost town overnight.
Flickr - Anita Ritenour
Nearly 15 years later in 1992, the camp in Prospect Creek became occupied again as construction workers and their families poured in to begin work on replacement bridges along the Dalton Highway.
Wikipedia - Ed Plumb
Prospect Creek actually has some really neat attractions. It is nearby to two National Wildlife Reserves, the Kanuti and Yukon Flats. It is also southeast of the Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Flickr - Terry Feuerborn
If cold weather isn’t quite your cup of tea, be sure to put this historic and positively unique destination on your bucket list and pay a visit during the summertime as soon as possible!
Flickr - Travis
Wikipedia
Flickr - soleclin22
Flickr - Terry Feuerborn
Flickr - Paul Weeks
Flickr - FairbanksMike
Wikipedia - Steve Hillebrand, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Wikipedia - Dennis Cowals, 1945-, Photographer
Flickr - Anita Ritenour
Wikipedia - Ed Plumb
If you thought that was intriguing, check out the northernmost city in the United States that is located in Alaska and is dark for a whopping 65 days a year. You’ll also likely relate to these 25 things that are actually really frustrating about living in Alaska.
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