Fairbanks Sights
There were not many “tourist” things open while we were in Fairbanks. But here are a few of the things we saw.
Trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
The pipeline is 800 miles long. It stretches from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean to Valdez. Work started on the pipeline in 1074 and ended in 1977. It crosses three mountain ranges, the Brooks Range, the Alaska Range and the Chugach Range. The silver exterior is not the pipe itself. It is an insulated heat shield. The pipe rests on Teflon-coated bars so that it can move during earthquakes. We average 50 earthquakes a day in Alaska.
This is across the road from the pipeline viewing station. We were told that someone just turned the water on for fun and let it freeze until it becomes a frozen fountain.
Alaska’s “Unknown First Family” is a sculpture by Malcolm Alexander. It stands in the Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks. It commemorates the 25th anniversary of Alaska Statehood.
Trivia question: When did Alaska enter the United States and which anniversary of statehood are we celebrating soon?
University of Alaska – Anchorage campus
Campus was pretty much deserted as it was spring break. It is a beautiful campus that sits high and overlooks the town of Fairbanks and the Chena River.
These are not parking meters on campus. They are electrical boxes so you can plug your vehicles in so they will start in the sub-zero temperatures. Our weather forecasts on television regularly include whether you should plug your car in or not. They say to when it gets below 20* (above zero).
Totem poles in front of the campus library. (So sorry!! I still have not found out how to rotate the pictures and make them STAY rotated!!)
