NENANA

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Distance Between Nenana and :
Fairbanks = 53 mi / 86 km
Anchorage = 304 mi / 490 km

Population = 422
Elevation = 400 feet / 122 meters
Location = 53 miles south of Fairbanks on the Parks Highway.

The 53 mile stretch of road between Fairbanks and Nenana is some of the most picturesque on the Parks Highway. Offering incredible views from high up in the Tanana Hills, you experience the immense proportions of interior Alaska. This is the only section of the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks that offers a completely different view from that you would see on the Alaska Railroad.

Nenana was originally known as "Tortella" a white man's interpretation of an Athabascan word. Nenana means " a place to camp between two rivers", as the town lies at the confluence of the Nenana and Tanana Rivers. The town's center is the waterfront along the Tanana, Alaska's second largest river. From here you may observe fish wheels, the 389' span of the Alaska Railroad trestle or the Indian cemetery high on the hill across the river. With a large Athabascan population, Nenana rapidly grew into a base for the construction of the Alaska Railroad in the 1920's. It was here in 1923 that President Warren G. Harding, after leaving Fairbanks, drove the golden spike that completed the construction of the Alaska Railroad. Visit the Railroad museum in the train depot downtown for a history of the construction of the Alaska Railroad. (open 8am - 6pm daily).

Today the town is extremely important for the river barges that supply goods and freight to dozens of villages along the river system, including Alaska's two largest rivers, the Yukon and Tanana. Tons of supplies, fuel, food and other freight are transported from the docks at Nenana during the endless summer days between May and September.

Nenana is also well known for hosting the Nenana the Ice Classic, an annual spring event that celebrates "breakup" and distributes a cash prize to the lucky individual(s) that (for $2.50 a guess) can accurately predict the exact month, day, and minute that the ice will begin to flow down the Tanana River. A tradition since 1917, last spring (2008) the Ice went out On May 6th at 10:53pm. All winners split the cash prize. Want to try your luck? Check them out. Tickets must be turned in by the first week in April. 2009 Jackpot is over $303,000.

Visitors Information Center is located in a sod roofed log cabin at the junction of the Parks Highway and "A" Street. (907) 832-9953. Open 8am to 6pm daily in summer. Ice Classic Tickets are also available here.

If you would like to find out more about hiking, sightseeing, camping opportunities, or mountain biking in the Nenana area then also visit the The Alaska Public Lands Information Center , They also have location in downtown Fairbanks and Anchorage. They are a great source of information on outdoor recreational lands use throughout all areas of Alaska. Here, you will find information on all of Alaska's state and federal lands including parks, forests, wildlife refuges, river systems, and trails. Available are topographic maps, books, slide shows, and other aids to help you with your Alaskan adventure. Expert staff are knowledgeable resource, and can assist you in learning much more about getting off the beaten track in Alaska.