Skagway

Entering the city of Skagway
from the harbour side

Skagway is a small city in Alaska. It is a borough, a town which has powers of self government.

The city has a very small population ( it was 862 by census in 2000 ) but the number will double in summer time due to recruits of extra hands by shops to handle the great influx of tourist arrivals, of which the figure is in the range of million.

The port of Skagway is a very popular stop for cruise ships from different continents. Therefore tourist trade makes up a large portion of the business of the locals of Skagway.

The inhabitants of Skagway are mainly the native Tlingit Indian tribes and they have been here since prehistoric time.

The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad were used for mining in the past but it is functioning solely for tourism purpose.

Besides tourist trade, fishing and hunting are the other two major earners for the residents in this region.

As in most towns in Alaska,
the buildings are made of logs

The old cowboy town type of
shop house

The streets are wide and clean
and free of traffic congestion
as the main access to the city
is by sea or air routes

We were taking a stroll around
the town

The streets are filled with tourists

Vehicles will always slow down
for the pedestrians who are
crossing the road

Sales were on in every shop
and i had already purchased
a bagful after just a few minutes
in the first shop we entered

The town is surrounded by
the sea and mountains

The main street