Though it is a remote spot and pretty inhospitable in the depths of wintertime, the area had special significance to indigenous Iñupiat people for over a thousand years before Point Barrow was "discovered". It was named after Sir John Barrow, a senior figure in the British Admiralty. That was as recently as 1826.
How audacious and disrespectful it was for European newcomers to ignore indigenous place names in past times. Not just on the northern shores of Alaska but elsewhere in the world from New Zealand to South Africa.
Finally - and this is totally unrelated - my Citroen 2CV picture came fourth in the picture of the week competition over at Geograph and my image of the old windmill in a sea of flowering rapeseed came second. So near and yet so far - just like Point Barrow.
It is an interesting place up there. Big Bear saw his first white fox near Barrow. By the way, Colorado is on the way to changing some of the names of predominant mountains back to what the First People and/or the Spaniards named them long ago. The first one to get a name change will be Mt. Evans which is a most beautiful mountain that I have had the pleasure of looking at first thing every morning since I have lived in Colorado.
ReplyDeleteI googled it and note that the plan is to change the name of Mt Evans to Mt Blue Sky. I didn't see an indigenous name in the running but I may just have missed it.
DeleteMy friend was an insurance agent in Alaska and often had to fly up to Utqiagvik which she said was an extremely depressing place. (and exorbitantly expensive to insure since everything has to be transported in and the buildings have to be constructed on permafrost)
ReplyDeletePerhaps your friend preferred sunny beaches and cocktail bars.
DeleteIf you are using "America" as in United states, then Pt Barrow is the most northern point. But if you narrow down the term "America" then Ellesmere Island is much further north. Just being picky!
ReplyDeleteWhoa boy! I did not mean to rile up proud Canadians!
DeleteI agree with the crowd re the windmill and the 2CV and in preferring them (as pictures) over your other 2. I've stopped more than once at the windmill picture when scrolling down your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that Marvellous Marcellous!
DeleteHow are those men wearing only jeans in that cold and one has bare hands too! I'd be bundled in so many layers I would be rolling instead of walking!
ReplyDeleteIn the summer, temperatures can be relatively benign up there.
DeleteI am not surprised that two of your pictures ended up among the top five, and one with the top three. Again, well done!
ReplyDeleteBeechey Head is another remote and inhospitable place, if I remember correctly. It has something to do with the expedition that lead to the tragic loss of the two ships Terror and Erebus and everyone on board, I think.
Place names have always changed according to who was ruling or in charge. The Romans imposed their names on places (not all Roman settlements were started by them, some existed a long time before that). But now we know better, and it is a sign of respect to go back to the indigenous names. Question is, how far back does it make sense to go? Some changes will have too many practical implications to make them reasonable.
Anglo Saxon invaders changed a lot of original place names on the island of Britain. You're right - how far back should we go for political correctness?
DeleteHmm.. I would have to take my Big Coat if I visited Barrow.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean Barrow-in-Furness? That's not too far from Ramsey.
DeleteI worked for an engineering firm that occasionally sent people to Barrow once in awhile. A couple colleagues of mine got to go and always complained about it as there was nothing else to do once their job was done for the day. I left that company before my turn came up.
ReplyDeleteThat is a shame. I think you would have found something worthwhile about that lonesome place.
DeleteNative history was all but obliterated in the Americas, there are burials in Florida that have been dated to 8,000 years ago, (the Windover site.)
ReplyDeleteThe "reservations" are some of the saddest places in America right now.
DeleteWell done with your photos of the windmill and the 2CV, YP.
ReplyDeleteCold and snowy places have no appeal, so I'll just look at the photos! It's +26ºC and sunny here this afternoon .....
Okay! No need to rub it in Carol!
DeleteWell, I would say that second AND fourth are not to be sneezed at. How often does one photographer get two shots in the top five?
ReplyDeleteYour comment concerning the naming of places that already have indigenous names is completely in line for how European explorers felt about the lands and people they "discovered". At least SOME of the towns in Florida have a version of the indigenous names that were here before the almighty white people made them legit with their presence.
I guess I should be satisfied with fourth and second but I'm not.
DeleteThe Manchester United holiday home and luxury car should have won YP.
ReplyDeleteSir Matt Busby will be turning in his grave.
DeleteSir John Barrow was a handsome chap! Congratulations on your near-wins.
ReplyDeleteThat's not Sir John Barrow. It's Frederick Beechey. You could imitate his style.
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