Alaskan Village Being Washed Away By Climatic Changes

The village of Newtok, Alaska, is relocating itself now before Mother Nature forces it to relocate later.

The village of about 350 indigenous people, situated on the west coast of Alaska about 400 miles south of the Bering Strait, looks to be a victim of coastal erosion, which scientists expect will put the entire site of the enclave underwater within four years.

The indigenous Qaluyaarmiut people, who have inhabited Newtok for at least 2,000 years, are avid fishermen and live a traditional Yup'ik Eskimo subsistence lifestyle.

The United States Army Corp of Engineers has determined the impending loss of Newtok is a result of climate change, a predicament that prompted the Guardian to run a series of recent stories about the community and dub its residents "America's Climate Refugees."

Newtok --- nearly 500 miles from the Alaskan capital and 100 miles from the nearest doctor, gas station or paved road --- is situated along the Ninglick River, which twists around the village before it empties into the Bearing Sea.

The river has been eroding significant portions of the area's land, some years carving away away more than 100 feet of earth, according to data collected by the Guardian.

The community experienced major floods in 2005 and again in 2006, while the prospect of relocating because of the rising waters has been in the minds of residents since the early 1990s.

Research provided by the Newtok Planning Group shows the rise of water has been intensified by thawing permafrost, declining sea ice protection, increased storm surge exposure and warming temperatures.

"The snow comes in a different timing now. The snow disappears way late. That is making the geese come at the wrong time. Now they are starting to lay their eggs when there is still snow and ice and we can't go and pick them," said Newtok resident Nathan Tom. "It's changing a lot. It's real, global warming, it's real."

The entire village will eventually have to be relocated to a new site, about nine miles downstream on the opposite side of the Ninglick River. It's estimated the relocation of the entire community is will cost upwards of $130 million.