Climate extremes: Snow and extreme cold
Valdez in Northern Alaska is used to battling against the elements. The town was relocated in 1964 after an earthquake and tidal wave completely destroyed it, and it currently has the record snowfall for the whole continent of North America - 7.7 metres per year. Snow and ice are part of daily life for Alaskans. Many towns, including the state capital Juneau, are accessible only by sea or by air, as roads either don't exist or are blocked for most of the year. Some houses are built without excavating any foundations, and most have special strong roofs to support the snow, and features such as windows that only open inwards so that they aren't ripped off by the Arctic wind.
