Current Population: 647 (2003 State Demographer est.) Incorporation Type: 2nd Class City Borough Located In: Unorganized School District: Bering Straits Schools Regional Native Corporation: Not Applicable Location: Gambell is located on the northwest cape of St. Lawrence Island, 200 miles southwest of Nome, in the Bering Sea. The City is 36 miles from the Chukotsk Peninsula, Siberia. It lies at approximately 63.779720° North Latitude and -171.74111° West Longitude. (Sec. 03, T020S, R067W, Kateel River Meridian.) Gambell is located in the Cape Nome Recording District. The area encompasses 10.9 sq. miles of land and 19.5 sq. miles of water. Gambell has a maritime climate with continental influences in the winter. Winds and fog are common, and precipitation occurs 300 days per year. Average annual precipitation is 15 inches, including 80 inches of snowfall. The Bering Sea freezes during mid-November, with break-up at the end of May. Average summer temperatures are 34 to 48; average winter temperatures are -2 to 10. Extremes from -30 to 65 have been recorded. Culture: The isolation of Gambell has helped to maintain their traditional St. Lawrence Yup'ik culture, their language, and their subsistence lifestyle based upon marine mammals. Residents are almost completely bilingual. Walrus-hide boats are still used to hunt. The sale, importation or possession of alcohol is banned in the village. Economy: The economy in Gambell is largely based upon subsistence harvests from the sea -- seal, walrus, fish and bowhead and gray whales. Fox are trapped as a secondary source of cash income. Some reindeer roam free on the island, but most harvesting occurs out of Savoonga. Ivory carving is a popular source of income. The abundant number of seabird colonies provide an opportunity for limited tourism by bird-watchers. Facilities: Water is derived from wells and Troutman Lake, is treated and stored in three storage tanks. 116 homes are now connected to the piped water and sewer system. The schools and washeteria have individual water wells and septic tank systems. 37 homes in the original townsite still haul water and honeybuckets. A Master Plan is underway. A new water source is needed to ensure no shortages will occur. The landfill is not permitted; the City wants to develop a new site. Transportation: Gambell's isolated location on an island with no seaport results in heavy dependence upon air transport. The State-owned airport is currently under major improvements; it provides a 4,500' long by 96' wide asphalt runway. Regular flights from Nome and charters from Unalakleet are available. Lighterage services bring freight from Kotzebue and Shishmaref. Climate: Gambell has a maritime climate with continental influences in the winter. Winds and fog are common, and precipitation occurs 300 days per year. Average annual precipitation is 15 inches, including 80 inches of snowfall. The Bering Sea freezes during mid-November, with break-up at the end of May. Average summer temperatures are 34 to 48; average winter temperatures are -2 to 10. Extremes from -30 to 65 have been recorded. *Source: Alaska Department of Community & Economic Development   This information was made possible in part by a grant from the Technology Opportunities Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.