Valdez (Alaska)

Valdez is a port town in Valdez-Cordova Census Area (Alaska USA), with population around 4,000. Valdez is ranked among state's most important cruise ports. Valdez was named after the Spanish Royal Navy.officer Antonio Valdes y Fernandez Bazan (1744-1816), who became famous during the the Battle of Havana (March-August 1762).

Valdez is a former Gold Rush town, located at a fjord's head on Prince William Sound's eastern side. Port Valdez started to flourish after 1899, when the Fairbanks road link was opened. It suffered damage during 1964 Alaskan earthquake. The town is also close to the site of the disastrous Exxon Valdez (oil tanker) spill of March 24, 1989.

Oil from Trans-Alaska pipeline is loaded on ships at Valdez oil terminal. There are 14 aboveground crude oil storage tanks situated at the terminal, and 3 to 5 oil tankers depart from Valdez oil terminal each week. Over 15,000 tankers full of oil have left since the pipeline started work in 1976.

Freight moves through the town bound for state's interior via Richardson Highway. Valdez is a port of call in Alaska Marine Highway (ferry system). Valdez Airport (aka Pioneer Field) serves only one airline (Ravn Alaska) offering domestic flights to and from Fairbanks AK, Anchorage AK and Seattle WA.

Valdez is a notable fishing port, serving both sport and commercial fishing boats. Sightseeing of glaciers, wildlife viewing, together with heliskiing and deep-sea fishing are among the main activities supporting the local tourism industry. To the north (on Richardson Highway) is Thompson Pass, featuring spectacular waterfalls and glaciers close to the road. Thompson Pass is also popular as a tricky driving destination during winter months.