Lack of snow forces Alaska to move Iditarod dog race

[Geee]

UK Telegraph:

The Alaskan Iditarod dogsled race has had to be moved for only the second time in 43 years because of a shortage of snow.

 

While a huge swathe of the US from New England to Alabama has recorded unprecedented snowfall, the same cannot be said of Alaska.

 

Snow has been so scarce that drastic measures have been taken to ensure the 1000-mile sledding marathon can take place at all

.

The starting point for this week’s event has been shifted 289 miles north from Willow to Fairbanks.

 

Anchorage, which received about a third of its usual winter snowfall, had to import lorry loads of snow to enable the opening ceremony to take place.

 

As a precaution, city workers have been stockpiling snow over the past few weeks.

Around 350 trucks were brought in to spread snow across the city ahead of the event, which then took place in light rain with the thermometer nudging 40F (5C).