Some people say it is “the last great race”. It takes up to two weeks to finish it. It is a test of human and animal. It is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Today’s Spotlight is on this race. This is the story of how it began.
Voice 2
It was January, 1925. There was a problem in the city of Nome, Alaska, in the United Sates. Children there were sick. They had diphtheria. This disease is often deadly. And it is very easy to get. Doctor Curtis Welch was the only doctor in this area. He knew he needed medicine very quickly. There were about 10,000 people in the area. Without the medicine, it was very likely that most children and adults in the community would die.
Voice 1
Temperatures in Alaska can be as low as 51 degrees below zero. Travel can be extremely difficult in this weather. In 1925, no car or truck could drive over the snowy land. And the main sea port to Nome was closed for the season. Doctor Welch sent an emergency message to cities around the state of Alaska. He asked for the medicine he needed. The city of Anchorage had the medicine. But it was over 1000 kilometers away. The medicine could travel part of the way by train. But what about the rest of the way? Officials decided to send the medicine to Nome by dog sled. These teams of dogs could pull loads over places where trucks and cars could not go.
Voice 2
A group of dogs pulled the medicine on a sled. A driver, or musher, guided them. They followed an old Alaskan path through the state. At the next town, this dog sled team passed the medicine to another team. Over 20 teams took part. The weather was terrible. It was snowing so hard the men could not see in front of them. And temperatures were below negative 31 degrees Celsius.
Voice 1
Five and a half days later, the medicine reached the city of Nome. The mushers and their dog teams were heroes. The city of Nome was saved. Newspapers around the country told this story. The President of the United States wrote letters to thank the men and dogs who took part in the delivery.
Voice 2
Almost 50 years later, this story inspired a sled dog race. In March of 1973, three men organized the first modern Iditarod race. Mushers and their dog teams began in the city of Anchorage. The end of the race was in Nome. It took 20 days for the winner to mush from Anchorage to Nome. The race honoured the mushers and dogs who worked together to bring the medicine to the children of Nome. Since then, the Iditarod race happens every year. It is the longest dog sled race in the world.
Voice 1
Every Iditarod race follows the same path across Alaska - the old Iditarod Trail. The trail is a series of very old paths. Experts believe that ancient native people used these paths for hunting. Today, the trail is recognized as an important part of history.
Voice 2
The Iditarod trail is not an easy path to travel. There are mountains, valleys, and lots of snow and ice. The trail splits in the middle to go around a group of mountains. In some years the Iditarod race begins in the city of Seward and follows the south trail around the mountains. And other years the race begins in Anchorage and follows the north trail. But the race always ends in Nome. The race is about 1800 kilometres long. It takes between eight and 20 days to complete.
Some people say it is “the last great race”. It takes up to two weeks to finish it. It is a test of human and animal. It is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Today’s Spotlight is on this race. This is the story of how it began.Voice 2 It was January, 1925. There was a problem in the city of Nome, Alaska, in the United Sates. Children there were sick. They had diphtheria. This disease is often deadly. And it is very easy to get. Doctor Curtis Welch was the only doctor in this area. He knew he needed medicine very quickly. There were about 10,000 people in the area. Without the medicine, it was very likely that most children and adults in the community would die.Voice 1 Temperatures in Alaska can be as low as 51 degrees below zero. Travel can be extremely difficult in this weather. In 1925, no car or truck could drive over the snowy land. And the main sea port to Nome was closed for the season. Doctor Welch sent an emergency message to cities around the state of Alaska. He asked for the medicine he needed. The city of Anchorage had the medicine. But it was over 1000 kilometers away. The medicine could travel part of the way by train. But what about the rest of the way? Officials decided to send the medicine to Nome by dog sled. These teams of dogs could pull loads over places where trucks and cars could not go.Voice 2 A group of dogs pulled the medicine on a sled. A driver, or musher, guided them. They followed an old Alaskan path through the state. At the next town, this dog sled team passed the medicine to another team. Over 20 teams took part. The weather was terrible. It was snowing so hard the men could not see in front of them. And temperatures were below negative 31 degrees Celsius.Voice 1 Five and a half days later, the medicine reached the city of Nome. The mushers and their dog teams were heroes. The city of Nome was saved. Newspapers around the country told this story. The President of the United States wrote letters to thank the men and dogs who took part in the delivery.Voice 2 Almost 50 years later, this story inspired a sled dog race. In March of 1973, three men organized the first modern Iditarod race. Mushers and their dog teams began in the city of Anchorage. The end of the race was in Nome. It took 20 days for the winner to mush from Anchorage to Nome. The race honoured the mushers and dogs who worked together to bring the medicine to the children of Nome. Since then, the Iditarod race happens every year. It is the longest dog sled race in the world.Voice 1 Every Iditarod race follows the same path across Alaska - the old Iditarod Trail. The trail is a series of very old paths. Experts believe that ancient native people used these paths for hunting. Today, the trail is recognized as an important part of history.Voice 2 The Iditarod trail is not an easy path to travel. There are mountains, valleys, and lots of snow and ice. The trail splits in the middle to go around a group of mountains. In some years the Iditarod race begins in the city of Seward and follows the south trail around the mountains. And other years the race begins in Anchorage and follows the north trail. But the race always ends in Nome. The race is about 1800 kilometres long. It takes between eight and 20 days to complete.
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