The “Far” North & Alaska

Physical Geography Three physiographic provinces: –The Northwest An extension of the high mountain Cordillera and the Pacific coastal mountains –The Laurentian Shield Gentle relief; few hills –The Arctic, including Greenland Gentle relief; few hills; Expansive views

Physical Geography Terrain –Permafrost –Laurentian Shield Ice-scoured plain; low-lying relief –Arctic Includes LOTS of different landforms Many lakes –Greenland Craton > 3 billion years old!

Physical Geography Basic characteristics of the Region: –Cold temps, long winters, thin soils, poor drainage, low precipitation Climate –Subarctic (Dfc), Tundra (ET), ice cap (EF) –Long winters, short & cool summers –Variable precipitation –  distinct biogeographic characteristics

Biogeography –Taiga Boreal forests –Tundra Lichen, mosses, tiny things –Global climate change Physical Geography } Defined by treeline

Historical Settlement Aboriginal Peoples Four main cultural groups: –Algonquin- speaking Crees and Ojibways –Athabascan cultures –Aleut –Inuit (eskimos)

Historical Settlement Early Europeans –Scandinavian Norse (“Vikings”) Igaliko, Greenland (built on 1000 year-old Viking ruins!)

Historical Settlement Early Europeans, Fur and Fish –French fur traders and trappers in the Northeast (16 th & 17 th centuries) –The Hudson Bay Company focused on the Northwest –Both used water transport and built military forts to protect their interests Alaska’s purchase

Current Settlement Aboriginals no longer rely totally on hunting, fishing and gathering Often occupy bottom rung on the social and economic ladder Native American = in the interior; Inuit = along the coasts and in the Arctic Native land settlements key issues

Traditional Political Economy Aboriginal people lived off the land, rivers, and the sea, relying on hunting, gathering and fishing to achieve sustenance Euro-Americans looked for three things: animals, minerals, trees Farming available, but very slim Fishing

Logging/Forestry –The largest area of uncut forest in North America –Lumber, pulp and paper operations dot the region from Quebec to Manitoba –The spruce forests south of Hudson Bay are the prime source for most paper mills Current Political Economy

Current Political Economy: Mining

Alaskan Pipeline Current Political Economy: North Slope Oil

Hydroelectricity –Provides 70% of all Canada’s power –Cheap & abundant –Sells surplus to New York and New England states, competing with the coal-burning power plants of the Ohio Valley Current Political Economy

Tourism –Major attractions Parks and national forests Wildlife (big game) Sport fishing –The areas closest to the US border receive most of the pressure Denali, National Park Grizzly Bear Relaxing Fly Fishing, Denise Lake

Alaska, a Political “Island”

Relative Location

Struggle for Alaska’s Land Continuous controversies: –Developing natural resources –Safeguarding the last frontier –Protecting and preserving traditional native population’ way of life –State’s rights to pursue economic development through exploitation of its natural resources

Chronology of Key Events 1867: US acquires Alaska from Russia 1884: Alaska Organic Act: victory for Aboriginal People 1959: Year of statehood 1959: Alaska Statehood Act annexation of 104 million acres, without regard of Aboriginal claims 1968: Petroleum discovered at Prudhoe Bay 1971: Alaskan Native Land Claims Settlement Act, providing one billion dollars and 44 million acres 1980: Conservation Act: 104 million acres of parks and refuges and 57 million acres specified as wilderness

Aleutian Islands Integrating Alaska into North America and the World

Resource Management Strategies Preservation: –Removing from or limiting use, saving it for the future Conservation: –Balancing use with protection Exploitation: –Full or unlimited use Multiple Use Wilderness Boom and Bust Economy –Cyclical rapid growth and catastrophic decline

Final Thoughts Transportation (Eco)Tourism Retirees?

Readings San Francisco Chronicle: Greenland likes global warming Mayer, Audrey, Pekka E. Kauppi, Per K. Angelstam, Yu Zhang, and Paici M. Tikka “Importing Timber, Exporting Ecological Impact,” Science 15 (April): 359–360. –An intriguing cultural & political ecology of the Far North. Rundstrom, Robert A “A Cultural Interpretation of Inuit Map Accuracy,” The Geographical Review 80 (2): 155–168. –Very cool article on how Inuit peoples use “maps” with incredible accuracy!

Discussion Questions How does continued Euro-American settlement influence the once-balanced lifestyle of the Inuit people? The Arctic Explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson says the “Far” North & Alaska will become a densely settled and fully-integrated region. Why would he say this? Is it really possible? How and why (or why not)? What kind of effects will occur in the “Far” North & Alaska as the Earth attempts to balance its temperature? Will they be beneficial? Disastrous? Non-effective? Why (or why not)?

Related Books Berton, Pierre The Arctic Grail: The Quest for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole, 1818–1900. New York: Viking. –The elusive 100-year search for the Northwest Passage. Bone, Robert M The Geography of the Canadian North: Issues and Challenges. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press Canada. –A geographical look at life and landscape of the region. Haycox, Stephen Alaska: An American Colony. Seattle: University of Washington Press. –Divided nicely into Russian exploration and the American period of settlement.

WebSources All Things Arctic Greenland!! Extreme Points of North America Tourism, Parks and Recreation Indian and Northern Affairs Canada