Umiat, Alaska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Umiat
Unincorporated community
Umiat Location in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	North Slope
Elevation	259 ft (79 m)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
FIPS code	02-80250
GNIS ID	1411508

Umiat (say it like OO-mee-yat) is a small place in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather a community. Umiat sits on the Colville River, about 140 miles southwest of Deadhorse. This area is deep inside the Arctic Circle, a very cold region of the world. You can't drive or take a train to Umiat. The only ways to get there are by air or by river.

History of Umiat

In 1944, a special area called the Naval Oil Reserve was created near Umiat. This area later became an air force base, but it is now closed.

In 1946, a large amount of oil was found in Umiat. This oil was trapped underground in a special rock formation called an anticlinal trap. Experts thought there were more than 70 million barrels of oil there. However, this oil was never taken out of the ground.

In 2009, Governor Parnell suggested building a road to Umiat. This road would have branched off from the Dalton Highway.

Umiat as a Research Center

Today, Umiat is an important place for scientific research, especially in the summer. Groups like the BLM and the USGS come here. They study how the climate is changing in the Arctic. They also look at how human activities affect the Arctic tundra.

The NPRA is managed by the BLM. They carefully watch how things like ice roads and ice-drilling pads affect plants and animals. This helps them protect the environment in this sensitive Arctic region.

Life at the Umiat Camp

Umiat does not have people living there all year round. It is mainly a camp and a place for aircraft and helicopters to refuel. These aircraft are often working in the area for oilfield services.

A local company runs the camp. In the summer, about 10 people work there. They usually work for two weeks and then have two weeks off. At any time, there are usually between 20 and 30 people staying at the camp. They are provided with lodging and food.

The camp is open from mid-May to mid-September. People at the camp can use the internet. They also have access to news and entertainment through satellite connections. The living spaces are special "ATCO" units that are set up permanently. There is also a kitchen that serves food cafeteria-style in one of these units.

Climate in Umiat

Umiat has a subarctic climate. This means it has very long and extremely cold winters. The summers are short, with warm days but cool nights. Even though it's summer, the midnight sun means the sun stays out for a very long time.

February is usually the coldest month in Umiat. Temperatures often stay below 0 degrees Fahrenheit until mid-April. Sometimes, it can stay very cold even into spring. For example, on April 5, 1995, the temperature dropped to -50 degrees Fahrenheit!

It doesn't rain or snow regularly in Umiat. However, snow has fallen in every month except July. The yearly low temperatures in Umiat are even colder than in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Umiat is known for having one of the lowest average annual temperatures in the United States. Only a weather station in Antarctic is colder on average.

Transportation to Umiat

The Umiat Airport is an airport in Umiat. It is owned by the state and is open for public use. This airport is the main way people and supplies get to Umiat.