Valdez is the southern terminus of the Richardson Highway and the trans- Alaska pipelines. population 4454. Valdez was established in 1897-98 as a port of entry for gold seekers bound for the Klondike goldfields. Until 1964 Valdez was located about 4 miles east of its present location, closer to Valdez Glacier. The 1964 Good Friday earthquake, the most destructive earthquake ever to hit south central Alaska, virtually destroyed Valdez. The quake measured 9.2 on the Richter scale. After the quake the Army Corps of Engineers determined the town should be relocated. Construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline began 1974 and was completed in 1977. The 800 mile long pipeline begins at Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean and ends at the marine terminal at Port Valdez.
This blog is set up to record our adventure as we travel North America in our 5th wheel. We just retired this year and are staying at Wildwood Rv and Golf Resort.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
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