136 CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF ALASKA 



At Nulato, 60° 40' N., 158° 13' W., the summer consists largely 

 of warm, hazy days, free from high winds or much rain. The 

 Yukon closes about October 20 and opens late in May. At 

 Ikogmut mission, 61° 47' N., 161° W.,the river closes about No- 

 vember 4 and breaks up about May 23, but in 1849 it remained 

 closed until June 5. 



Mr A. J. Henry gives in the Monthly Weather Review, August, 

 1897, other temperature means for short periods. The lowest 

 monthly means are as follows : Anvik, 62° 37' N., 160° W., De- 

 cember, -2.1°; Tuklukyet, 65° 10' N., 152° 45' W., January, 

 — 11.1°; Belle Isle (a short distance up the Yukon from Circle 

 City), 65° 30' N., 142° 38' W., January, -15.8°; Camp Colonna, 

 about 64° 45' N., 141° W., February, -15.3°; Camp Davidson, 

 about 67° 30' N., 141° W., January," -17.4° ; Fort Reliance, 64° 

 10' N., 139° 25' W., January, -28.7°. 



The most important temperature observations in the Klondike 

 regions are those made at Dawson from August, 1895, to Novem- 

 ber, 1896, by Mr William Ogilvie, whose scientific standing and 

 ability are guarantees of their worth. While they do not give 

 all the mean temperatures, yet they record the minimum and 

 much information of value. In July only the temperature did 

 not sink below freezing. During June, July, and August, 1896, 

 the temperature rose on 29 days above 70° and thrice above 80°. 

 The extreme severity of the winter is indicated by the fact that 

 from December 1, 1895, to February 1," 1896, the temperature 

 fell below zero every day. On 28 days it fell lower than —40° ; 

 on 14 days, lower than — 50°, and on nine days lower than — 60°. 

 The mean temperature for January, 1896, was — 40.7°, and for 

 February, — 35.4°. Bright weather is the rule. From October 

 1, 1895, to the 1st of May following, snow fell only on one day in 

 seven. In June, 1896, however, it rained on 12 days and the 

 temperature rose above 80°. The Yukon broke up on May 17 

 and ran thickly with ice until the 23d, when the first boat came 

 down the river. Except for two weeks, the Yukon was free from 

 ice until October 29 ; it was frozen solid November 5. 



The temperature observations at Fort Reliance, adjacent to 

 Dawson, in 1880-'81, communicated to The National Geo- 

 graphic MagazIx\e of November, 1897, by Mr E. W. Nelson, con- 

 firm the severity of the winter climate. The Yukon was frozen 

 from November 2 to May 14. The mean temperatures for De- 

 cember, January, and February were —31°, —7°, and —29° re- 

 spectively, and on 35 days the thermometer registered between 



