Prudhoe Bay

Located 200 miles east of Barrow lies the area of Prudhoe Bay sitting on the North Slope oil field. The territory of Prudhoe Bay is not your average city with a lot of residents and large buildings. However, it is one of the most important places in Alaska for the benefit of the state's economy and its people. The huge deposits of oil under Prudhoe Bay were discovered in 1968.

Prudhoe Bay oil provides the largest source of revenue for the state of Alaska. Prudhoe Bay's rich and natural resource of oil is not only a benefit to the state of Alaska, but to the entire country, as well. Prudhoe Bay is the largest oil field in North America. In addition, this massive field of oil and gas provides the state with over 90 percent of its oil demands.

The production and drilling of the oil began in 1977, after the large 800 mile oil pipeline was completed after much work and planning. The pipeline allowed the oil to be sent from the north slope of Prudhoe Bay to the ice-free port of Valdez, Alaska where it could enter the refineries and be loaded unto tankers. Interestingly, every day nearly 80 million gallons of oil are pumped through the Alaska pipeline. This remarkable pipeline stretches over two mountain ranges, 350 rivers, numerous streams, and much of Alaska's rugged terrain.

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