Valdez
The Spaniards explored the area around present-day Valdez in 1790. They discovered the excellent landlocked, ice-free harbor and named it Valdez. The city itself was established in 1898 as a debarkation point for vessels seeking a route to the Yukon gold fields that would obviate the necessity of paying duty to Canada.
In 1964, Valdez was devastated by a huge earthquake. It was rebuilt at its present location, which is 8 km (5 miles) west of the old site. Valdez is the southern terminus of the trans-Alaskan oil pipeline, which was built in the 1970's. The pipeline originates in the oil field of Prudhoe Bay. In the mid-1970's, Valdez' port facilities were greatly enlarged. On 24 March 1989, the Exxon Valdez hit a reef not far off the coast from Valdez and spilled approximately 10 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. Clean-up efforts ensued, but much wildlife was killed or endangered as a result of the environmental disaster.
Accommodation and restaurants are available in Valdez. The city has tourist, mining and fishing industries, as well as salmon spawning grounds. It is at the head of Valdez Arm inside Prince William Sound in the south of Alaska, 730 km west from Juneau and 5160 km northwest from Washington D.C.
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