The Trans-Alaska Pipeline |
The Pipeline carries oil 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean to the pipeline terminus at Port Valdez. |
Delta Junction offers the first view of the trans-Alaska pipeline for visitors coming up the Alaska Highway from Canada. The best view is about 9 miles north of town, where the pipeline crosses the Tanana River. Pump Station No. 9 is located about 8 miles south of town on the Richardson Highway. Tours are no longer offered since the 9/11 attack on the U.S. | |
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Karen Duquette stood
under the Alaska Pipeline - June 20, 2009 |
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Part
of the Trans Alaska Pipeline "Pig" displayed at the Visitor Center in Delta Junction |
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As the two RV Gypsies left Delta Junction and continued their Alaska journey down the Richardson Highway, they were fortunate enough to have many more sightings of the pipeline. |
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The zig-zag of the
Alaska Pipeline cam be seen for many miles. |
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Because of the varying soil conditions along its route, the pipeline is both above and below the ground. Where the warm oil could cause icy soil to thaw and erode, the pipeline goes above ground, Where the frozen ground is mostly well-drained gravel or rocks and thawing is not a problem the pipeline is underground. | |
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The pipeline goes into
the ground. |
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As the two RV Gypsies rolled along the highway in their RV, more glimpses of the Alaska Pipeline came into view. It occasionally went underground, but soon would re-surface again. |
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Another day, another drive,
more pipeline, this time near Fox, Alaska |
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The white line shows where
the pipeline runs throughout the state of Alaska |
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A view of the pipeline
from the upper trail |
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woods and a dirt
mound on the upper trail by the pipeline |
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