Home Alaska Info & Geography Our Itineraries Photography & Cinematography Interactive Map Alaska Links & Websitepartners Contact / Disclaimer Alaska Cruise Alaska Overland Alaska Glaciers Alaska National Parks Alaska Wildlife Alaska Marine Wildlife Alaska Adventures Alaska Flora Alaska Background Stories Alaska Presentations Cruisepage2 HubbardGlacier AialikGlacier KnikGlacier Iceplanet1 Iceplanet2 ValdezGlacier WorthingtonGlacier MearesGlacier ColumbiaGlacier GlacierBayNP1 GlacierBayNP2 RootGlacier ExitGlacier MatanuskaGlacier WrangelStENP WrangellStENP/Flightseeing WrangellStENP/Naturehike WrangellStENP/Kennicott KenaiFjordsNP DenaliNP PWSMarineWildlifeCruise BearAdventure TopOfTheWorldHighway BibleofNorthCountryTravel AGoodDaysCatch NotOnlyCowsAreCalving Bears LearnToFish 24HoursAnchorage TheLonelyFisherman PrehistoricWildlife TheFisihingIsGreatInValdez OffTheBeatenPath YukonInfo KlondikeGoldrush Beringia ARailroadToHell Alaska2012-1 Alaska2012-2 Alaska2012-3 Alaska2012-4 Alaska2012-5 Alaska2012-6 Alaska2012-7 Alaska2012-8 KlondikeGoldrushThe Klondike Goldrush Click here for a fullscreen map These are the most famous scenes in Canadian history: prospectors climb the last steep part of the Chilkoot Pass in the winter of 1897-1898. Not far from Skagway they started the first part of their journey of almost 600 mile, full of hardship to the gold fields: on their way to fortune? Chilkoot Trail Historic pictures published with permission of the Alaska State Library, Juneau Skagway - Alaska Dawson - Yukon At the foot of the Chilkoot Trail 1897-2011 The Klondike is a tributary of the Yukon River and is generally knows as the area of the greatest gold fever in history.In August 1886, three gold prospectors by chance found gold in the creeks near Dawson City. Stories of the gold strike didn’t reach the outside world until July 1897. In justa few weeks, the Klondike was well known throughout the world. ‘Gold Everywhere’ the headlines said followed by a story that claimed that ‘the size of the Yukon gold fields were equalled by America’s wheat fields’. These reports misled tens of thousands of men and women over the whole world with the idea that they would be the ones to find the most important gold vein and make their fortune. Many invested their last savings and travelled to this area but actually had no idea where they were going, what they should do once they got there and what kind of extreme winter hardships were awaiting them.A journey full of hardshipsThe fortune hunters first travelled by boat from Seattle to the low-lying coastal area of Dyea, a small bay near Skagway. Skagway developed into a trading place where the gold seekers had to purchase their kit and equipment. Then, in the winter, the bizarre journey began over the Chilkoot Pass. The Canadian Northwest Mounted Police allowed every traveller to take about one ton of goods and equipment with them; enough to support you for one year in the Yukon. Travellers repeatedly made the journey to and from across the pass in order to get their equipment transported. The last steep climb over the Chilkoot pass included the use of pack animals. Because so many of the animals died on this rough and small path, it became known as Dead Horse Trail. Many of the fortune hunters themselves were not up to the extreme winter climate either and did not survive the journey over the pass.Once the pass had been crossed, hordes of gold seekers established themselves in temporary camps on the banks of Lake Bennett. Whilst waiting for the thaw in the late spring, the travellers built boats here with wood from the surrounding forests. As soon as the ice disappeared from the lakes and rivers, a fleet of homemade rafts floated down the Yukon River. A great number of obstacles had to be overcome whilst travelling the 550 mile journey often lasting one to two months, before managing to reach Dawson, the new town on the banks of the Yukon river.DawsonDawson City was built at the point where the Klondike and the Yukon Rivers meet. In a short time, Dawson grew from a campsite to a bustling town, complete with saloons and casinos. The Northwest Mounted Police patrolled the town and even tolerated prostitution. There was an abundance of business opportunities for men and women who responded to what the gold seekers in Dawson needed. Many of them earned more money with this trade than the gold seekers themselves, because only a few individuals found gold here.The Klondike Gold Rush came to an abrupt halt in July 1899 when it became known that gold was found on the beaches of Nome in West Alaska. Many fortune hunters left Dawson and headed for more fortune… Read more http://maps.google.nl/maps?q=Dawson+City,+Yukon,+Canada&hl=nl&sll=52.469397,5.509644&sspn=3.467189,9.832764&vpsrc=0&hnear=Dawson+City,+Yukon,+Canada&t=h&z=12 alaska-editions.com Om alle inhoud te kunnen zien hebt u de actuele versie van Adobe Flash Player nodig. |