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Arctic Visions
by Karen Randlev Smith
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Above the Arctic Circle near Barrow, Alaska, the ocean remains frozen all but about six weeks a year, when the cargo ships from Seattle quickly moor off the point to disgorge winter supplies. This is the time for the seashore to come alive with jellyfish, shrimp, broaching whales and herds of walrus. The short warm season provides only a brief respite from the painfully smooth white of an infinite ocean. Sometimes when there is a wind of tremendous velocity, the chunks of ice will back up on themselves and create an icescape of mini-mountains against the white Arctic desert, relieved by grey sky . . .
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