Nome National Forest
| Nome National Forest | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 64°29′39″N 165°24′03″W / 64.4942°N 165.4009°W |
| Administration | |
| Established | Mid-1990s |
| Governing body | Charlie Lean |
Nome National Forest is a seasonal artificial forest in Nome, Alaska. Containing 100 trees on average, it is planted on the frozen Norton Sound in early February and stays until the ice starts to melt. Other than trees, it also contains about 50 animal figures made from plywood. Charlie Lean, a resident of the town and member of its Rotary Club became keeper of the forest in 2016 and is helped by community volunteers.[1][2]
The animals do not last very long and have to be remade every few years, sometimes by people from the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center.[1] On especially cold days, the trees are placed in holes filled with water, which freezes the tree in. In the spring the trees are used to create a fish spawning habitat.[3]
History
The forest was initially created in the mid-1990s as a prank by Connie Madden, the editor of The Nome Nugget, and Nancy McGuire, Madden's friend. They wanted to trick visitors who traveled there for the Iditarod, gathering old Christmas trees and putting them on the ice. They continued it for the following years, adding a sign declaring it a national forest the first year after its founding.[1][2]
The forest was not active for three years as both Madden and McGuire had died. Richard Beneville, the mayor of Nome, led the movement to revive the forest, allowing it to prop up again in 2016.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Deedy, Alexander (February 13, 2021). "Alaska Magazine - Nome National Forest". Alaska. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Wade, Silas (February 28, 2020). "Nome National Forest has sprouted again". The Nome Nugget. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ "Foresting a Treeless Town". KNOM. December 4, 2017. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Borden, Mitch (March 4, 2016). "Effort in place to revive Nome National Forest". Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.