Home»All Photographs»Alaska 2010»Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and the Arctic ocean

Deadhorse camp in Prudhoe Bay is the end of the Dalton highway. This is mainly an Oil company working camp, although the do take in tourists such as our tour group with Holland America. Access to the arctic ocean is restricted since all of the land is controlled by a consortium of BP and Arco. In order to see the ocean you must go on the company sponsored tour. After an hour propaganda session on how incredibly altruistic and environmentally friendly the oil companies are (no mention of the Gulf oil spill!) they finally take you to the arctic ocean.
The spot is a tiny beach surrounded by oil pump installations. The day we were there was a remarkably clear and warm day (60 deg F) and we could see the arctic pack ice on the horizon. Taken in itself it was not particularly spectacular place, but knowing it was the Arctic ocean gave it a strange other worldly quality.