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
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
