Musk Ox of Nome, Alaska
After a long flight, I finally arrive in Nome, Alaska just about as far west as possible. Nome is situated on the southern Seward peninsula of the Bering sea. Still a mining town, where time has stood still, horse & cart made way for the modern pick up truck.
Many of the roads in & out of town are compacted gravel structures several feet thick due to the permafrost.
.Musk oxen, an ice age mammal were reintroduced in the area in 1970, after disappearing in the 1800’s due to over hunting, The current population (approx. 5300) & stems from a 1935 reintroduction program to Nunivak island from Greenland stock followed by transfer to the Seward peninsula.
The Bulls stand at around 5 feet and weigh 600-800lbs
Built in the early 20th century, a large wooden structure with multiple cast iron buckets on a motorised conveyer belt like system. They floated in their own ponds moving forward across the landscape searching for gold. Often the permafrost had to be dealt with before work could commence. Named Lees dredge & was one of the last to work the Sallman river, owned by the Lee family, it was worked until the 1960's
Golden Eagles of Sweden
More to follow soon
