Start of the Iditarod, the Last Great Race

Fourth and D Streets in downtown Anchorage, the ceremonial start of the Iditarod dogsled race, "the Last Great Race," held in March. Snow is trucked in and spread on the streets of Anchorage along the dogsled trail. The Iditarod officially begins in Palmer, 30 miles to the north, and runs 1,000 miles to Nome; the sign at the finish line in Nome claims 1,049 miles, but the "49" symbolizes Alaska as the 49th state. During summertime, this is the Anchorage tourist trap; not to single out the eye-catching yellow Sunshine Plaza, but which would you expect to find inside - businesses providing products and services to the residents of Anchorage or souvenir shops catering to visiting tourists?

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