History of Bethel, Alaska
Bethel (Mamterilleq in Central Alaskan Yup'ik language) is a city located in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, 340 miles (540 km) west of Anchorage. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,262.
Bethel is the largest community in western Alaska and the 9th largest municipality in the state, as well as the largest that is not located within an organized county-equivalent|borough. It lies inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the largest wildlife refuge in the United States. It is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Bethel is home to the premier mid-distance dogsled race, the Kuskokwim 300. The "K300" is considered by many of the world's elite mushers to be the greatest sled-dog race in the world, even though other races receive more media attention. The K300 is so highly acclaimed because of the warmth and energy of the community volunteers, the dedication of the race's sponsors, and the high prize purse. In the spring, traditional dancers from all over Alaska and the world gather for Cam-ai (pronounced Cha-Mai) Dance Festival.
Though the region is flat and generally treeless, local residents enjoy snowmachineing, skiing, bicycling, kayaking, caribou hunting, salmon fishing, and access to the surrounding 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
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