Fairbanks

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Central Alaska was sparsely inhabited by Athabascan people, when gold was discovered there in 1902. Fairbanks was established and boomed briefly. Real growth didn't start until the Alaska railroad opened the region. The military bases of Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base are now central to the area's development.

Government, mining, tourism, oil pipeline services and lumbering are also important to Fairbank's economy. Fairbanks is the only sizable urban center in the vast Alaskan interior. Not far from town is the University of Alaska. Dogsled racing draws visitors and the city has several art galleries, theaters, a symphony, museums and other cultural institutions.

Accommodation and restaurants are available in town. Fairbanks is on the Chena River near its confluence with the Tanana, 1010 km northwest from Juneau and more than 5000 km northwest from Washington D.C.