2016 Aug Alaska 13

Our view out the front of our campground.  Valdez is the end of the oil pipeline.  The very large storage tanks were across the river from us.

Millions of salmon spawning in the river just north of our campground.  Below is the fish ladder into the spawning tanks.

Below are the spawning tanks.  Somehow they separate the Coho eggs from the Pink Salmon eggs.  Coho take longer to return to the ocean  (it might be reverse)  so they separate the eggs and incubate them differently.

17 million eggs per day!!!!

Close to the fish hatchery, the locals were taking advantage of the returning salmon.

The sea gulls and seals were enjoying the feast.  Bears are often seen along the banks here also.

On our way back to Valdez, we met this guy.  He was so still I thought it was a statue at first.

Is this a trained bear, or just real comfortable around humans?

Road houses were established numerously around Alaska during the Gold Rush era. They were the early hotels in the area.

One of the first automobiles brought to Valdez.  I think the horse and buggy would work better.

Valdez was destroyed by a Tsunami after the 1964 earthquake.  Above is a picture of old Valdez.  It was built in a low area along the river, so was very vulnerable. The town was moved a few miles to the South to higher ground.  The residents that survived the Tsunami were given 2 years to relocate.  Below is the Pinon Bar that was a favorite hangout in old Valdez.  It was saved and moved to a museum in new Valdez.

We went out to the location where the old town use to be.  Everything was leveled two years after the catastrophe.

Before and after pictures.

Then the old spill happened in 1989.  The tanker left Valdez heading South and  hit a large rock south of Valdez.  Valdez was not affected by the oil spill, but the map above shows how much of Southeast Alaska was affected.

1977 the first oil flowed through the 9 billion dollar pipe line. Above just a display in the Valdez Museum.