Lezing: Noatak River – Late Summer North of the Arctic Circle

Kano verhalen

Noatak River – Late Summer North of the Arctic Circle

The Noatak is located on the eastern edge of the Brooks Range in northwestern Alaska; it originates in Gates of the Arctic National Park, winds its way through mountains and tundra, and flows into Kotzebue Bay north of the Bering Strait. This river piqued our interest because, among other things, it offers a captivating variety of landscapes: tall mountain scenery, then open, barren tundra, followed by lowlands where trees gradually reappear (starting with miniature birches) all the way to small woodlands. And, of course, the river meets an essential criterion: far away from everything, wild, and secluded. So, filled with curiosity, we made the switch from the rivers of Canada to Alaska.

During the first few days, summer in the north plays tricks on us. When we reach for our journal, we realize it’s already past 10 p.m. What is time on the river? Time and again, we have the impression of being in a more real time, with a clear structure that arises from the necessities of the day, not from synchronization with a man-made clock. The beauty of what we get to see and experience thus also stems from this disconnection from the industrial rhythm—and from the acceptance of that other, inner time. Today, I’d like to introduce you to this journey, with its own laws and encounters.

Claudia Mößner, Altrheinpiratin

Spreker: Claudia Mößner