Prudhoe Bay (Deadhorse) Alaska is home to the largest oil field in North America. It is located in Alaska between the coast of the Beaufort Sea and the North Slope of the Brooks Range Mountains. It is about 1200 mi. south of the North Pole and 250 mi. north of the Artic Circle.The climate of the North Slope is arctic. Temperatures range from -56 to 78. Precipitation is light, averaging 5 inches, with snowfall of 20 inches. The Bay was named in 1828. The site was extensively developed for oil drilling operations in the 1970s. An 800-mile pipeline was constructed to transport crude oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, where it is shipped in marine tankers to terminals throughout the U.S. The pipeline has 12 pump stations and a maximum capacity of 2 million barrels of crude oil per day. Alaska Natives represent 8.5% of the population. As a work site, oil is the focus of the local culture. All residents are employees of oil drilling or oil-support companies, and work long consecutive shifts. Living quarters and food are provided to the workforce, and there are a number of recreational facilities. During the April 1990 U.S. Census, there were 0 total housing units, and 0 of these were vacant. The official unemployment rate at that time was 0%, with 47 jobs estimated to be in the community and 0% of all adults not in the work force. The median household income was $39,673, and 0% of residents were living below the poverty level. Wildlife in the area: Artic Fox, Artic Ground Squirrels, Brown Bears (Grizzly), Polar Bears, Musk Ox, Artic Hares, Caribou (Approximately 25,000)and over 200 different bird and waterfowl species including geese, swans, seagulls and eagles. During the Winter months only the artic fox, ravens, and the occasional polar bear are to be seen.
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