Utqiagvik, Alaska

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/utqiagvik--alaska

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How many people live in Utqiagvik, Alaska?4,927 (2020 Census)
2. What is the capital of Utqiagvik, Alaska?Utqiagvik is the borough seat of the North Slope Borough
3. What language do people speak in Utqiagvik, Alaska?English and Inupiaq
4. What is Utqiagvik and why is it special?Utqiagvik is the northernmost city in the United States, located on the Arctic coast just north of the Arctic Circle. It is special because it balances indigenous heritage, scientific research, and the impacts of climate change.
5. Why did the town change its name from Barrow to Utqiagvik?The name change in 2016 was a cultural reclamation, honoring the Inupiaq people and their language.

Arctic Circle: The latitude approximately 66.5 degrees North of the Equator, marking the region with 24 hours of daylight in summer and darkness in winter.
Permafrost: Ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, significantly impacting construction and infrastructure in Arctic regions.
Subsistence Economy: An economic system focused on meeting basic needs through local resources, primarily hunting, fishing, and gathering, common in indigenous communities.
Tundra: A biome characterized by treeless plains, low temperatures, short growing seasons, and permafrost.