Valdez, Port city in Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States
Valdez is a port town at the end of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, nestled between the Chugach Mountains and a deepwater fjord on Prince William Sound in Alaska. The settlement stretches along the shoreline and offers access to protected waters surrounded by steep mountain slopes.
After the devastating 1964 earthquake, the entire town relocated under Army Corps of Engineers supervision about four miles away to more stable ground. The new settlement arose on a plain less vulnerable to tidal waves and soil liquefaction.
The annual theater conference brings playwrights and actors from across the country who develop new works and perform them for local audiences. The events take place during summer months when daylight lasts nearly around the clock and the coastal town feels especially lively.
The Richardson Highway connects the town to interior Alaska and serves as the main route for both residents and freight operations. Winter can bring heavy snowfall that makes the road challenging, so checking weather conditions before setting out is advisable.
With over 300 inches of snow per year, the town ranks among the snowiest inhabited settlements in the United States. The enormous snowfall shapes the winter townscape, when roofs require regular clearing and high snow walls line the streets.
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