The Iditarod Dog Sledding Race
Lydia, Ashley, Chelsea
Mr. Eddy’s 5th grade
Sources: www.askjeeves.com
www.sled-dograce.com
Mush (book)
IN 1925, a terrible disease called diphtheria came over the little town called Nome, in Alaska. There was bad weather which kept all transportations unavailable to be used. A serum was needed to inoculate the town’s people, but it was in short supply. The serum was rushed from Nenana, Alaska to Nome, Alaska by dog teams. This led to today’s Iditarod ® dog sled race to mark the historic serum run.
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners win money. The 1st place winner wins $50,000, the 2nd place wins $44,800, and the 3rd place wins $36,400. The Iditarod is known as The Last Great Race ®, and the longest on the Earth. It is more than one thousand miles long.
In 1973, during the first weekend of March the race began in Anchorage.
Often more than fifty teams enter the race. On every team there are seven
to eighteen dogs. The fastest teams can reach the finish line in
eleven to twelve days.
True or False
Often seven to eighteen dogs are on the dog team.
True
False
The disease was called Diphtheria.
True
False
More than one hundred teams enter the competition.
True
False
It takes about nine to twelve days for the fastest teams to complete
the race.
True
False
In 1925, the weather was so good, all transportations were being used.
True
False