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Kivalina, Alaska: A Disappearing Town

At the tip of a barrier island 80 miles above the Arctic Circle, the town of Kivalina, Alaska, is melting into the sea. Read the full article on Kivalina, Alaska

Whale Ribs and Whaling Boat
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Whale ribs and whaling boat create a kind of "Welcome to Kivalina!" sign at the edge of town.

Jerry Nortan
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Jerry Norton, 66, is one of the accomplished hunters of Kivalina. He learned his skills from his own elders and his father taught him about "the five kinds of ice."

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Photographed by Kevin Horan

A whale vertebra found on the beach will be carved into a salable artifact by village artist Russell Adams.

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Photographed by Kevin Horan

The village cemetery lies alongside the gravel air strip. While the Inupiat have lived along this coast for hundreds or thousands of years, they were induced to settle in Kivalina in the early part of the last century.

Erosion
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Last year's attempt at forestalling the erosion of the edge of town included large plastic bags filled with sand and gravel. It began to degrade at the first major storm of September.

A catch of fish and seal fat
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

A catch of fish and seal fat chill in a snow bank. Less ice means harder hunting -- the last time anyone in Kivalina got a whale was in 1994.

Enoch Adams, Jr.
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Enoch Adams, Jr. has served at various times as a vice mayor, a city councilman, and a member of the relocation-planning committee.

Lucy Adams
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Lucy Adams, mother of Enoch Adams, Jr., is 75. She came to Kivalina -- along with her parents and 6 of her 11 siblings -- from Point Lay, 150 miles to the north, by dogsled and skin boat in 1943. "My dad supported us by hunting and trapping and selling furs," Lucy says.

Russell Adams
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Russell Adams, Sr., just installed a new washer in the living room. There is no running water, so they use garbage cans to collect and reuse it.

Caribou meat
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Caribou meat cut from a carcass stashed in a snow bank over the winter is hung to dry. Unfortunately for the owner, the next day it was gone, snatched by stray dogs.

Dried caribou meat
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Dried caribou meat put out for guests and family. Inupiat survive mostly on seal, whale, fish, and caribou.

Man shoots at geese
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

A young man walks out onto the warming ice to take a chance shot at geese with a .22. Rising temperatures and melting ice mean less protection from the ocean's destruction.

Kids on bikes
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Photographed by Kevin Horan

Kids take advantage of the spring melt to break out their bikes. Elders point out that the puddles drain much faster now that the permafrost beneath is receding.

Comments :
By JudyChase, 09/18/2008, 12:21 AM EDT

J have taken trips to Kivalina and stayed in the village. It consists of wonderful people and nice homes. I do not find it ramshackled. I do wish the the governent would move Kivalina and it's great people to a site that the people of Kivalina want. I hope to come and visit again . I love the people who live there and this part of Alaska

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