Iditarod
The Iditarod is the world’s most famous dog sled race. It is an annual race that starts on the first Saturday of March in Anchorage, Alaska and ends in Nome, Alaska. The annual race crosses the Alaska Range and Kuskokwim Mountains range. The contestants in the race go northwest from Anchorage. Then they turn north and go along the Bering Sea to Nome. On even years they take the route that goes more north and on odd years they take the route that goes more south. White Mountain is the last of three rest stops for teams in the race.
Iditarod is an endurance sport for the sled driver and the dogs. They have to keep moving for 1,100 miles. All the paths are cold, icy, and snowy. 12 to 16 dogs are in the race.
The current way the Iditarod is run today started in 1973. There were also shorter races that started in 1967. The first shorter race took place in the years from 1967 - 1973. The shorter races were held on the Iditarod trail which was an old mail route.
Iditarod Media
The Iditarod 2020 start line in Anchorage
Statue of Balto in Central Park, New York City
Route of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska
Start of the Iditarod National Historic Trail in Seward
Aliy Zirkle's team on Anchorage's Fourth Avenue at the start of the 2003 Iditarod
Brent Sass departing Rainy Pass checkpoint during the Iditarod 2020
Robert Sørlie's team approaches Nome, 2007.
The old "Burled Arch", the official finish line in Nome, Alaska, collapsed in 2001, pictured at its location in 1977.
An Alaskan Malamute, derived from the original Iñupiat sled dog breed.
A Siberian Husky, the fast 1908 import from Russia.
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References
- "Nature." Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic. Web. 12 May 2014.
- Nightingale, Dave. "Iditarod." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 1 Apr. 2014.
- "Race Across Alaska." Weekly Reader-3 (Vol. 74, No. 19). Feb. 25 2005: 2+. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.