2006-08-19 Musk Ox Farm, Mat-Su Valley, AK 19

We headed for the Musk Ox Farm. It stopped raining long enough for us for the tour. The Musk Ox Farm in Matanuska Valley, AK is the only domestic musk ox farm in the world. The musk ox was hunted into extinction in Alaska and Canada in the 1800's. They were captured and brought in from Finland and Norway and domesticated for this farm. The farm combs out the underwool that they shed in the spring. The wool is spun into thread and sent to the villages where the native women knit beautiful scarves and hats from it. The wool is warmer than sheep's wool and softer than cashmere. The products are beautiful and the proceeds create income for the subsistence lifestyle that many natives here are still practicing. We spoke to someone at the farm that said that Hatcher Pass Road was closed today due to flooding. We're glad we changed our plans last night!

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  • Title: 2006-08-19 Musk Ox Farm, Mat-Su Valley, AK 19
  • Description: We headed for the Musk Ox Farm. It stopped raining long enough for us for the tour. The Musk Ox Farm in Matanuska Valley, AK is the only domestic musk ox farm in the world. The musk ox was hunted into extinction in Alaska and Canada in the 1800's. They were captured and brought in from Finland and Norway and domesticated for this farm. The farm combs out the underwool that they shed in the spring. The wool is spun into thread and sent to the villages where the native women knit beautiful scarves and hats from it. The wool is warmer than sheep's wool and softer than cashmere. The products are beautiful and the proceeds create income for the subsistence lifestyle that many natives here are still practicing. We spoke to someone at the farm that said that Hatcher Pass Road was closed today due to flooding. We're glad we changed our plans last night!
  • File name: 2006-08-19 Musk Ox Farm_ Mat-Su Valley_ AK 19.JPG
  • Captured: 2006-Aug-19 20:31:27
  • Owner: Andrew Koransky
  • Dimensions: 640 x 480 px
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