Alaska, USA

The fishing industry * Commercial fishing provides 78,500 jobs and adds US$6 billion to the state economy per year. * 3000 rivers in Alaska that are relied on by Native American communities for subsistence fishing.
Mineral extraction * One third of the state’s mining wealth comes from gold. * In 2013, the Pebble Mine project was cancelled because indigenous people protested against it. It would have been the largest open-pit operation in North America. Anglo America walked away from a $500 billion investment. * The toxic chemicals used to process gold (mercury, cyanide and nitric acid) damage humans and the environment.
Energy production * 50 hydro-electric power plants supply Alaska with a fifth of their energy.
Tourism * 1-2 million tourists attracted per year, so work is seasonal and tour guides are sometimes poorly paid. * 60% of tourists are cruise ship passengers.
Oil production * 90% of taxes come through oil. * 1 in 7 Alaskans have a job in oil production. * The pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez passes underground in some regions so that it does not disturb caribou migration. * Took $8 billion to build. * In 1989, 12 orcas, seabirds and other sea life died due to an oil spill.

Extreme temperatures * Temperatures fall well below -30 degrees Celcius. * This creates hostile working environments and treacherous road conditions.
Inaccessibility * Sparcely populated and very remote region. * People may not be able to rely upon supplies of food and energy. * Most people are self-sufficient because of this.
Provision of buildings and infrastructure * Roads are prone to cracks when the active layer of the permafrost melts in the summer. * Roads are built on raised gravel beds 1-2m deep to avoid heat transfer. * Buildings are triple glazed to prevent heat loss and have steep pitched roofs to get rid of the snow. * Airport Runways are painted white to reflect sunlight