Although these pictures are from 1993, Tuk has not changed much. I was just there in 1997 and the only change I can see from the pictures is that they built a new airport building. The bottom right picture is of the town Inuvik, NWT, Canada; just south of Tuktoyaktuk. It is a good example of how the inhabitants of Arctic towns get their utilities...those metal paths on stilts running between buildings are the conduit for hot water, electric, gas, drinking water, and sewage. They are above ground to prevent the permafrost from melting. If the permafrost were to melt, the buildings would shift and collapse in on themselves. Kind of like a sink hole in California.

Check this out! The only way in or out of Tuk and Inuvik in the summer is by plane or boat. In the winter, supplies are trucked in over the frozen rivers. The rivers are frozen so solidly that the ice can support heavy tractor trailers! The rivers are kept clear by big snow plows and graters that keep the "roadway" even and passable. Don't forget, in mid-winter there is only about one hour of dusk and the temperature may only get up to a balmy -20° Farhenheit! Brrr!! And you thought driving in winter in the lower 48 was bad!