Welcome to Fairbanks: The Golden Heart of Alaska
As the largest city in the Interior region and the second-largest in the state after Anchorage, Fairbanks serves as a critical transportation, service, and supply hub for the vast Arctic and Interior territories.
Known as the "Golden Heart City," Fairbanks is located just 196 miles (315 km) south of the Arctic Circle.
Photo Credit: Becky Alexander
And they’re off! The energy at the chute this morning was electric as the 2026 Yukon Quest Alaska officially kicked off in Fairbanks.
Best of luck to all the mushers and canine athletes heading into the wild today!
Next stop: Two Rivers. We’ll be watching the tracker as they head into the first night of the 750!