Exploring Alaska's Mysterious and Quiet Ghost Town

Imagine living in a bustling city filled with busy shops, active children playing in the streets, and vehicles moving up and down. Now imagine such a place being so silent you could hear your heart beating in your chest. This happens for specific periods in several months of the year in some cities across Alaska. This eerie phenomenon is locally known as “the whispering of Alaska.”

Factors Contributing to the Whispering of Alaska

There are many factors contributing to this unusual effect:

1. Snow as a Sound InsulatorIn the frozen winters of Alaska, residents often wake up to find their towns blanketed in a fresh layer of fluffy snow. While beautiful, snow is a natural sound insulator that absorbs sound waves. The freshly fallen snow has lots of vacant space between flakes that trap and muffle sound—it practically swallows sounds whole.

2. Cold Air Temperature Cold air doesn’t transmit sound, and warmer air does not, due to the lower speed of sound at low temperatures. This reduces the wavelength (and frequency) of sound waves, resulting from sounds traveling slower than they would through warmer air.

3. Ice Fog Ice fog can also contribute to Alaska’s winter silence. Ice fog occurs only under specific conditions: when temperatures are below freezing and tiny ice crystals hover in the atmosphere. These little ice crystals absorb even more noise than regular fog or clear air.

4. Polar Night During winter days in regions like the North Pole or Barrow, the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon for 60-67 days, creating Polar Night. This results in quieter atmospheric conditions that make cities go “audibly silent.”

Life Amidst Silence

Despite these natural elements creating a blanket of silence over Alaskan cities during specific periods, residents adjust their daily routines accordingly. Life continues within this baffling phenomenon called the “whispering of Alaska.” It’s hard to believe unless you experience it firsthand.

The combination of snow as an insulator, cold air slowing down sound transmission, ice fog absorbing noise, and extended periods without sunlight all contribute to this unique auditory experience. For those who live there or visit during these times, it offers an unparalleled sense of tranquility amidst what would otherwise be a bustling environment.

In conclusion, while many might find it hard to imagine such profound silence enveloping an entire city, it is a reality for several Alaskan communities each year—a testament to nature’s incredible ability to shape our sensory experiences.