  Alaskas immense proportions, vast mountains, and open skies and enough land mass to cover over a 5th of the continental US, hold less then 1/2 a million inhabitants. The pace and the attitude of the people are unique. Our visit provides us with a lasting memory of good folk, who always find time to stop what they're doing and greet us. The city of Valdez is situated on a picturesque 11-mile fjord in Prince William Sound. Access to the sea has played an integral part in its history and evolution. The area was originally established back in the winter of 1897-98 when it was used as the starting point of the All American Route to the interior gold fields. Before the days of Anchorage and air travel, it was a vital link for food and gear to the rest of the Alaskan interior via the Old Richardson Hwy. Valdez still plays a vital role in access and transportation as the northernmost year-round port in the U.S. However, in the past few decades, the port of Valdez has shifted roles from importing to exporting. Today, Valdez is the primary outlet for Alaskas number one export, crude oil. The Alaska Marine Terminal located across the water from the town is the terminus of the 800 mile trans-Alaska pipeline. This station pumps more than 75,000 barrels of crude oil per hour into storage tanks, or directly into tankers. Over 70 tankers export this valuable commodity monthly. The area took on world-wide focus after the Exxon oil spill of 89. Although the spilled oil never hit the shores of Valdez, the area was the primary staging area for the clean-up operation. Page 1 of 3 |