The predominant summer colors of the region are provided by the vege- 

 tative patterns. Common patterns include: bright green near water sources and 

 dull green or brown on the hillsides. During fall the floodplains turn bright 

 yellow, while red and golden yellow colors dominate the hillsides. Ridges 

 of nearby hills are barren and appear gray in color with occasional dark 

 brown rock outcrops. 



Cultural modifications are visible from every site in the Seward Penin- 

 sula. The Nome-Teller Highway intersects and/or parallels five of the region's 

 study sites, and the Nome-Taylor Highway parallels the Nome River near the 

 sixth study site in this region. The roadways are the most visible cultural 

 modifications, but the lines they create generally blend into the lines of 

 surrounding landscape. Several streams are crossed by bridges of varied de- 

 sign. These bridges create vertical and horizontal lines that are not fre- 

 quently found in these landscapes. Access roads frequently lead from main 

 highways to river floodplains. Drainage ditches constructed during early gold 

 mining periods frequently can be seen as they follow the contours of adjacent 

 hillsides. These ditches were constructed to collect and provide water at 

 upland gold mining sites. Several trails traverse the local terrain and are 

 visually disruptive. Some cabins are situated within sight of roadways, but 

 none are noticeable from within the study sites. There also is evidence of 

 other gravel removal and gold mining sites throughout the region. 



Visual Sensitivity and Degree of Visibility 



The Seward Peninsula study sites are located within immediate or fore- 

 ground view of the Nome-Teller and Nome-Taylor Highways. There are only three 

 established highways for vehicle travel on the Seward Peninsula and all radi- 

 ate from Nome, the largest population center on the peninsula. All of the 

 study sites are within a 40 km radius of Nome. There is an established BLM 

 campground about 24 km north of the Nome River study site. This campground and 

 the historical gold mining districts near Nome attract additional summer 

 tourist travel along these routes. Commercial tours of the peninsula usually 

 begin in Nome and branch out along these roadways. Any changes or alterations 

 of the landscape that occur in the foreground along these roadways would be 



294 



