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Floods and snow-related disasters were also among topics of the subcommittee discussions, which are summarized below.

Flooding in Harbin suffered great losses from the flooding of the in 1998. The Songhua, 's third largest river, floods every two or three years, but the flood of 1998 was the worst in Flag ceremony, Winter Cities Quebec 2001 100 years. The lives of the residents of Harbin were greatly disrupted. Subcommittee on To cope with the disaster, the city of Harbin promoted a relief program in Countermeasures which residents and the People's Against Natural Disasters Liberation Army worked together. As a Confers result, stability returned to the The International Association of community and life in Harbin was Mayors of Northern Cities (IAMNC) normalized. Subcommittee on Countermeasures At present, a program is underway Against Natural Disasters conferred in here to construct a large-scale flood Quebec City, Canada on February 3, prevention facility that will protect the 2001, to discuss a survey the city from all but the level of flooding subcommittee will conduct and to that occurs only once every 200 years. exchange information on natural disasters in member cities. Representatives from Harbin, China; Snow-Related Disruption Kiruna, Sweden; Prince George, Heavy snowfall and other snow- Canada; and Sapporo, Japan took related incidents cause traffic part in this second meeting of the congestion and disruption of city subcommittee. functions. As a countermeasure, The natural disasters prompt snow removal becomes subcommittee was established at the indispensable. ninth Mayors Conference in Luleå and Top priority is placed on snow Kiruna, Sweden in February 2000. The removal in the city of Prince George, Fire Bureau of the city of Sapporo, which is authorized to remove parked which is responsible for the city's vehicles that interfere with snow disaster prevention programs, has removal work. The city of Sapporo, in assumed the secretariat of the contrast, does not have such subcommittee. A previous meeting of authority; streetside parking hinders the subcommittee was held in Prince effective snow removal here, and this George in October last year. has become an issue in the city. The severity and type of snow

disaster varies from city to city. In Case Studies Planned Sapporo, where heavy snowfalls are The natural disasters subcommittee not unusual, it is snowstorms that are will survey natural disasters, such as more disruptive. In Prince George, the floods, earthquakes, and snowfalls problem is often cold temperatures. that create significant disruption to Here the temperature may drop life and to city functions. Case studies suddenly to minus 20 to 40 degrees of disasters and of antidisaster centigrade after a snowfall, causing measures in member cities will be problems with snow removal vehicles included in the survey. It is expected and equipment. that the natural disaster survey will contribute to increased safety and livability in northern cities. The Kiruna subcommittee will make a final report Many academic institutions are regarding natural disasters at the involved in city administration in eleventh Mayors Conference in Kiruna, and with the city's Anchorage in February 2004. The participation on the subcommittee, survey report will enable winter cities Kiruna hopes to make technical to learn from each other's experience and expertise. assistance available. For example, telecommunications satellites may be used by Kiruna to forecast or observe natural disasters, such as floods.

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Subcommittee on Snow 2. Community support and involvement in Harbin's snow Management Meets in clearing. Quebec In November 1998, the mayor The IAMNC Subcommittee on Snow approved new Regulations for Management convened on Clearing Away Road Snow and Ice February 3, 2001 in Quebec City in the Harbin Urban Area. The following the Winter Cities 2001 regulations established conference there. Snow responsibility for snow removal in Management Subcommittee specified areas of the city, as well members representing the cities of as time standards for clearing and Aomori, Harbin, Kiruna, Luleå, regulations regarding disposal of Prince George, and Sapporo were snow. present. The city of Nuuk, Volunteers also play an important Greenland, was a guest at the role in snow removal in Harbin, meeting. where they take charge of sections of a road. The volunteers, which Best Practices Guide; have included persons over the age WinterNet Use Encouraged of 70 as well as young students, The Snow Management clear away snow as soon as it has Subcommittee has indicated its accumulated using shovels and intention to compile a Best brooms. Also, the mass media here Management Practices Guide that praise the work and efforts of will identify the most suitable snow people who cooperate in the snow management practices for IAMNC removal work. member cities. The subcommittee 3. Combining society's expects to produce a guide that responsibility units and property does not duplicate work already rights responsibility units in snow available. clearing operations. The subcommittee meeting also Beginning in the 1980s, confirmed support for the use of ?responsibility units? have cleared WinterNet (www.iamnc.org) to snow from Harbin streets. Today, exchange information, to post with new expressways added to the articles of interest to member cities, road surface in Harbin, the and to develop links from member responsibility units have not had websites to the WinterNet site. sufficient capabilities to perform all snow removal duties, and as a result, a designated office has been Harbin, Nuuk Submit assigned that duty. Reports

The cities of Harbin and Nuuk have submitted snow management Snow Removal Operations reports to the Subcommittee on in the City of Nuuk, Snow Management. The reports Greenland will be posted at the WinterNet site. Nuuk has a harsh winter with Excerpts of the reports appear precipitation reaching between below. three and four meters of snow. On occasion, Nuuk can receive enough precipitation resulting in approximately 50 to 100 centimeters or more of snow in one day. Temperatures in winter can go as low as -25•‹C. The average is - 8•‹C in January. Unpredictable winds along with great precipitation in winter contribute to many snowstorms that, for short periods, can create Winter Cities Quebec 2001 Showcase extreme weather conditions for Nuuk residents, sometimes making it impossible to keep roadways Snow and Ice Removal open. From Nuuk has approximately a Urban Roads—the hundred kilometers of paved roads, Example of Harbin and the municipality's Department The city of Harbin has made snow for Technical Matters and and ice removal from city streets Environment is responsible for and expressways a priority in order winter maintenance. For snow to accommodate the mobility and clearing purposes, roads in Nuuk traffic safety needs of residents and are divided into three categories tourists, and to create a favorable according to importance for winter environment. The city's accessibility. Municipal Administration Bureau The municipality is divided into has developed a model of snow 15 snow clearing districts with removal that has been in use since responsibility for 14 of the districts the 1980s. contracted out to private concerns. 1. Combining mechanical and The municipality assumes chemical methods in snow clearing. responsibility for the management The city of Harbin has increased its and quality control of snow clearing use of snow removing vehicles in one snow clearing district, the recently, and when used together clearing of snow from public with salt, Harbin has had positive stairways, pedestrian paths, bus results. stops at municipal institutions, and slippery areas. In reviewing its winter maintenance needs, Nuuk takes many issues into account, including traffic safety measures, environmental considerations, and the economy. Nuuk takes all these matters under consideration in order to ensure that its overall solutions in dealing with snow removal operations are balanced and appropriate.

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by Anne Martin, acting-president, with contributions from Patrick Coleman, past president, Livable Winter Cities Association

Delegates to Winter Cities 2001 in February found a warm welcome in Quebec City in spite of subzero and snowy weather. The conference title was ?Global Climate Change and Its Impact on Northern Communities.? The program was comprised of workshops, panel discussions, technical visits, and a trade show. Principal conference themes were climate change, Quebec,Canada, site of Winter Cities 2001 habitat, and energy, and speakers were climatologists, town planners, architects, geographers, biologists, The Ideal Winter City Aboriginal people, municipal Conference sessions concluded government representatives, and with a well-attended panel people from the business discussion on ?The Ideal Winter community. City.? Panelists discussed architecture, housing design, winter

cities in Scandinavia, and social Challenges for the North attitudes. It is apparent that despite Several speakers focused on the great improvements in technology, results of climate change, transportation, clothing, and heating including— systems, North American culture is •more frequent and severe rain, increasingly negative about winter, snow and ice storms, and and that fuels the flight of increased winds; population from the north to the greater ranges of temperature and • south. Changes must be made by hotter days; the media, the education system, •less humidity and long dry periods and cities to reverse current with reduction in soil moisture; attitudes. •increasing freeze-thaw cycles. Air pollution is also expected to Technical Tours accompany climate change, and Technical tours included visits to a water supplies will be at risk of new housing development near degradation. Delivery systems, Quebec, to the Ice Hotel-Quebec, including those of food supplies, and to an experimental road station could be disrupted. to observe how construction types are evaluated. These visits Action Needed provided opportunities to learn how Two areas of action are required to the Quebec region is dealing with alleviate the consequences of housing, tourism, and transportation. climate change, according to conference speakers. The first IAMNC, WCA to Cohost relates to adapting urban systems, 2004 Events which could include preparations Representatives of the International for severe flooding, planning for Association of Mayors of Northern higher highway maintenance costs Cities (IAMNC) and the Livable resulting from increasing freeze- Winter Cities Association (WCA) thaw cycles, and other efforts, such met during Winter Cities Quebec to as— discuss ways the organizations avoiding construction in flood • could work together to improve plains; living conditions in northern adapting building codes and • communities. As a result of the standards to meet changing talks, the two groups will cooperate climate conditions; on the Winter Cities conference in upgrading access to weather • Anchorage in 2004. The IAMNC forecasting warnings; and the WCA will cohost the Forum planning for winter emergencies, • and the Exhibition portions of the and reviewing these plans conference. The third event, the regularly. Mayors Conference, will be As the urban landscape changes, conducted by the IAMNC. new designs can be incorporated, such as— •raised crosswalks to eliminate Quebec City Winter Carnival treacherous slopes and to create Winter Cities 2001 coincided with drier pedestrian walkways; the Quebec City Winter Carnival, •bus shelters designed for winter; and there were opportunities for participants to tour the historic city, multiple uses of parks and • to visit the dramatic ice palace and municipal facilities in all seasons; outstanding snow sculptures, and grouping buildings in clusters and • to meet Monsieur Bonhomme, the landscaping to reduce winds and carnival mascot. Delegates came to to create heat pockets. the conference from Japan, The second area of action to Sweden, the U.S.A., Greenland, reduce the effects of climate and Canada. Our thanks go to the change involves altering human dedicated and hard-working activities: for example, replacing organizers for a productive event. fossil fuels with alternatives like geothermal heating and air conditioning, or using electro- technologies in industry. Reduced use of the automobile is also crucial. Conference speakers also urged northern communities to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions, starting with an examination of municipal energy bills, to learn what changes could be made.

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Yellowknife, the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, has a population of 17,700. Yellowknife was developed in the 1930s and •f40s, and for more than 50 years gold mining contributed to the growth of the city.

Yellowknife has always had a jewel- Two diamond mining companies, like quality. Set in pink and grey BHP Diamonds Inc. and Diavik granite on the shores of Great Slave Diamond Mines Inc., have invested Lake, one of the world's largest hundreds of millions of dollars here pristine bodies of water, Yellowknife sparkles and glitters, summer and over the past several years and winter. Yellowknife is showing the results This gem of a city is one of the with some of the most advanced best places in the world to catch the communications services in Canada shimmering, fiery northern lights, and and excellent air transportation. Yellowknife now entertains thousands Within eight years, Canada will of overseas visitors on Aurora Borealis tours each winter. But that's likely be among the top six diamond not all that brings visitors here. From producers in the world. May through August, Yellowknife's midnight sun provides up to 20 hours of light each day—perfect for fishing, canoeing, sailing, golfing, and just lounging on a sun-warmed rock beside a lake. The city that gold built in the 1930s and •f40s has traded up—from gold to diamonds! Tourist Attractions Abound Yellowknife, the capital of Yellowknife's historic Old Town Canada's Northwest Territories, is retains some of the excitement of riding high on the glittering stones, the •f30s when gold moved with one diamond mine in everything. Today there are quaint production some 200 kilometers eateries, boat, kayak, canoe, and north of here, and another on the yacht rentals, and, from June way. Local jewellers are now through September, a constant trading in the first Canadian arctic buzzing of float planes taking diamonds. visitors on fishing trips. Marketing the sparkle is Sirius In contrast to Old Town, Diamonds NWT Ltd., Yellowknife's Yellowknife's New Town offers the first cutting and polishing facility, services of a much larger city. which has been producing Shopping for northern crafts and art Canadian cut Polar Bear is excellent. There is the Prince of diamonds since May 1999. Now Wales Northern Heritage Center, joining the market is Deton•fCho featuring regional history and Diamonds Incorporated, located in aboriginal life-styles, the unique nearby Ndilok and Arslanian snow-house-shaped Legislative Cutting Works Ltd., both of which Assembly Building, and a lively celebrated their grand openings in visitors center. 2000. Near the airport there is a beach Northern creative and artistic and a summer stage, where visitors skills are being applied to northern can catch folk and rock music jewellery making, using locally performances. Nearby, a manufactured diamonds and gold. picturesque highway winds 70 Yellowknife jewellers are now kilometers east, passing cottages marketing diamonds that have on lakes that are noted for their been mined, cut, polished, and set excellent fishing and boating. in the Northwest Territories to Walking trails link the major sites visitors from around the world. around Yellowknife, summer and winter. Come to Yellowknife! Mineral City Access to Yellowknife is convenient: Mineral exploration activity north of air service is available from here has flourished since the Edmonton, Alberta, seven days a discovery of diamonds in Yellowknife. week, and overland, Yellowknife can Prospectors and geologists now be reached via the Mackenzie believe the geological surface has Highway from Grimshaw, Alberta, or only been scratched. With new mining technologies, improved baseline via the Liard Highway from Fort geological mapping, and increased Nelson, British Columbia. ability to service exploration, Yellowknife residents are ready to invest in northern exploration and the environmentally sound development of northern resources.

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Located on the banks of the Songhua River, Harbin (9.68 million people) is the capital of Province as well as the largest city in northeast China. The city also has great historical importance. Harbin was the center of China's Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) and the birthplace of the Jin and Qing (1644–1911) Dynasties. In the early twentieth century, Harbin A bird's-eye view of the city of Harbin. became an important international business port and distribution China Harbin Trade Fair center for northeast Asia. Many investment contracts are Since New China was founded signed during Harbin's annual Ice 50 years ago, Harbin has and Snow Festival and during the undergone great changes and has Harbin Trade Fair. The trade fair recorded impressive achievements. takes place every June and is one The city has been able to raise the of seven regional trade fairs living standards of its people, and it approved by the Ministry of Foreign has won many awards for its Trade and Economic Cooperation. environmental quality. Harbin is Businesspeople from over 20 ranked eleventh among China's top provinces and more than 50 50 most prominent cities. countries and regions attended the recent trade fair. Strengths and Goals As one of the most important Ice & Snow Festival industrial cities in the country, Many tourists come to Harbin in Harbin is a leader in automobile winter for the world-renowned Ice manufacturing, food production, and Snow Festival, which is held on pharmaceuticals, machinery, and January 5 every year. Festival electrical equipment manufacturing. events include outdoor winter The city has more than 13.3 million swimming, ice hockey, skiing, and hectares of arable land and has the trade fairs. Ice lanterns and snow largest grain provisions in China. sculptures are also displayed. Harbin also has an advanced The Snow and Ice Festival, transportation network, including which has been held every year five railways and seven main since 1985, brings in foreign highways that pass through the city. investment after visitors from The Harbin International Airport and overseas have seen Harbin's Harbin Harbor have also played beauty. Residents here have important roles in the development already begun preparations for next of the city's economy. year's festival. Harbin is now focusing on the development of its high-tech industries and education systems. Harbin Tourism Harbin has been officially named as There are 24 higher education one of the top tourism cities in institutes and more than 400 China by the State Council. Visitors research institutes in the city. are drawn here by Chinese history

and tradition, such as the Jin International Cooperation Dynasty attractions, and also by the Boosted Western cultural influences in the Harbin is striving to improve its city, including architecture. investment environment by Other attractions here include the expanding international Songhua River, Sun Island on the cooperation. The city has so far north bank of the river, the Flood built trade relations with over a Control Monument, the Songhua hundred countries and cultivated Highway Bridge, and the Walk ties with eleven cities in nine Road in the Central Street. The countries. Yabuli Ski Resort, the Manchurian Foreign investment has greatly Tiger Training Base, and local stimulated Harbin's economy and natural scenery also bring many the number of foreign companies in visitors here. Every summer Harbin the market here is still rising. Two- lives up to its reputation as the thousand four-hundred-and-eight Town of Music and hosts a major foreign entities from 44 countries music festival which attracts people have been approved to invest in the from all over the world. city. Foreign funds have poured into 14 industries, including machinery, electronics, food, agriculture, and construction. Joint ventures have provided jobs for ninety-thousand local people. The ventures have developed smoothly thanks to regulations designed to encourage foreign investment. A special group has been established to handle problems for foreign businesses, including communications, electronic provisions, transportation, and capital.

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The discovery of a large manatee fossil here in 1980 was the start of a cleaning, assembling, and modeling project that brought together many people of Takikawa. The city's Museum of Fine Art and Natural History was built in 1986, Takikawa is a city of partly to house the manatee, or approximately forty-seven ?Takikawa Dragon,? as a main thousand people in the centrally exhibit. The manatee provided a located Sorachi District of unifying and unique symbol for the Hokkaido, Japan. town, and in 1985 Takikawa's Although Takikawa prides young and old danced through the itself on its four beautiful streets with drums and cymbals, seasons, it is more famous pulling andondashi—brilliantly throughout Hokkaido for its colored and illuminated paper floats extremely heavy snowfall in featuring wave and dragon imagery. winter. Whether there is snow The excitement became an annual on the ground or not, however, summer festival that culminates in a Takikawa people know how to river-water battle. enjoy the outdoors, and the In winter, fishing through the ice influence of their attractive on the frozen rivers and keeping natural environment can be warm with hot rice wine is a favorite seen in their arts, crafts, and activity; and there are other ways to festivals. keep occupied during the long snowy months here. The All- Hokkaido Tug-of-War Championship, which is Takikawa's major winter festival, and cross- country skiing—whether up in the Maruka Highlands or alongside the river by one of the local hot springs—offers additional winter fun and healthy exercise.

Sources of Artistic Inspiration The seasons of Takikawa play an Winging over Takikawa. important part in the paintings of Eien Iwahashi (1903-1999), born in The city of Takikawa is nestled on Ebeotsu village in northern a river plain at the confluence of the Takikawa. After graduating from Sorachi and Ishikari rivers. The school in Ebeotsu, Mr. Iwahashi left rivers of Takikawa have had a great his family to study art in Tokyo. He influence on its history. Less than was interested in abstract and two hundred years ago, when surreal styles of painting, and one people from the mainland of Japan of his representative works is a 29- decided to settle in Hokkaido, meter long scroll entitled ?Dosanko- Takikawa's position at the junction Tsuioku-no-Maki? [Memories of a of rivers and railroads secured its Child of Hokkaido], which depicts importance. It was a base for the four seasons of his hometown. settling the north, one step from the Mr. Iwahashi received many honors major city of Sapporo into the and awards throughout his career, island•Ls rugged interior. Takikawa's including the ?Order of Cultural river plains provide fertile fields for Merit? from the Emperor of Japan. crops of onions, rice, potatoes, His work is displayed in Takikawa's other vegetables, apples, and Museum of Fine Art and Natural flowers. In coal mining days History. Takikawa's location also Koutaro Ono is another famous guaranteed its function as a major Takikawa artist. Born in Brazil in transportation hub. The winds that 1953, Mr. Ono has since made embrace Takikawa's river plains Takikawa his home. Mr. Ono's work provide ideal conditions for sky with ceramics has been much sports today. Gliders from the city's acclaimed, especially his trademark Sky Park can often be seen in the luminescent, water-blue colored skies. glaze, and he has shown pieces in prestigious national and Sorachi and Ishikari international exhibitions. When not The Sorachi and Ishikari rivers working on ceramics, Ono can be provide many recreational found teaching at the Takikawa City opportunities, and fishing, Ceramics Centre. canoeing, and kayaking are popular pastimes. A Youthful, Rich Heritage The waters also play a major part One of Takikawa's goals is to in the city's iridescent summer provide residents with a rich festival, the Shibuki Matsuri. This is heritage. This is being achieved a relatively young festival with through careful town planning and intriguing roots. The word shibuki through the realization that in the refers to the fine, misty spray of a creation of an increasingly global powerful wave, which suggests the community, one cannot be entirely importance and power of inward looking. On the national Takikawa's converging rivers, and level Takikawa enjoys affiliations which reflects the turbulence of the with Tochigi City near Tokyo and ancient oceans that brought a huge Nago City in Okinawa. On the manatee to rest here. international level, Takikawa's sister city is Springfield, Massachusetts in the United States. Takikawa residents hope to learn a lot from people in other cities and lands, but they also feel they have a lot to offer. Come and enjoy at least one of Takikawa's beautiful seasons!

Northern Intercity News 7

Luleå is a city of seventy-two thousand inhabitants, making it the twenty-sixth largest municipality in Sweden. Luleå today is the result of the municipal amalgamation of 1969, when two neighboring communities and the city of Luleå were united to form one municipality. Downtown Luleå, Sweden.

The city of Luleå was founded in Education and IT 1621 around a fifteenth century church in the old town of Businesses Gammelstad. The whole church Luleå has several first-class village of Gammelstad with its little educational institutions. Sweden's cottages, the largest village of its first University of Technology is in kind in Sweden, was included in Luleå, and quite naturally, the city UNESCO's World Heritage List in also has a wide spectrum of 1996. The medieval site is very companies in the field of information much in use today and is a popular technology, some of which are tourist attraction. already world leaders in their respective fields. The Aurorum

Technology Village is an Trade and Administration international center for information Luleå is an important port for the technology here, and the city's region's export businesses, and its House of Technology is a popular new ore-handling harbor is one of educational attraction for visitors. the world's most modern shipping Exhibits here place science in real ports. The city also has one of the contexts, making science learning largest airports in Sweden, handling relevant and easily comprehensible. almost one million passengers a Luleå also boasts of the most year. Luleå is also a city of modern hospital in Europe. considerable political importance: it Completed in 1999, the is an administrative center for environmentally-friendly, high-tech Sweden•Ls northernmost region. facility offers patients peace and quiet and has been designed to provide a unique feeling of security and harmony.

Visitors Welcome Luleå has much to offer the visitor. In addition to the city's three special attractions—the World Heritage Gammelstad Church Village, Luleå archipelago, and the Råne River The Luleå Ice Palace is one way residents enjoy winter. Valley—the Luleå area offers great leisure and recreational opportunities, including cross- country and downhill skiing, fishing, canoeing, and golf. For those who like to explore, the Mount Bålinge Nature Reserve offers a primeval forest and great hiking trails. Visit Luleå! Discover a town of the future in an expanding region offering high-quality life.

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•The Taebaek Coal Museum is the largest facility of its kind in Asia and is highly educational and entertaining. The museum takes visitors through the complete development process of the coal mines, effectively demonstrating the importance of coal and making quite obvious the reason why it is often referred to as ?black pearl.? Mt. Taebaek is the center of Baekdudaegan and has a special spiritual significance for Koreans. In winter, the snow-covered •Yongyon Cave is an 830-meter- landscape of Mt. Taebaek attracts many long limestone cave located 930 tourists. meters above sea level, which makes it the highest in the nation. The five-thousand year-old city of The cave presents visitors with a Taebaek, Korea is located in the wonderland of stalagmites and midst of the Taebaek Mountains, stalactites. which form the spine of the Korean Peninsula. The mountains are also Tourism and Culture the source of the Han and Nakdong rivers, the lifeblood of the nation. Festivals The rivers originate at Lake Taebaek is blessed with an Hwangji in the center of Mt. abundant variety of natural scenery Taebaek. and exciting festivals for every Taebaek's location, accessibility, season. For example, the Mt. vitality, and tourist attractions have Taebaek Azalea Festival is held made it the center of economy, annually in early June when royal social life, culture, education, and azaleas are in full bloom and, sport in the southern Kangwon together with yew trees, create a region. truly impressive spectacle. With an average elevation of 650 The Mt. Taebaek Cool Cinema meters, Taebaek benefits from a Festival is another popular event unique highland climate that held here. Visitors to Taebaek may provides cool summers and while away hours in the forest along abundant snow in winter. the waterway during the day and Taebaek's slogan ?Let's Sell Our enjoy a wide range of films at the Snow-White Winters and Cool cinema festival at night. Cool Summers? motivates the sixty- summer nights, beautiful starry thousand residents of Taebaek to summer skies, and no mosquitoes take advantage of the local climate allow viewers to enjoy a cool and and to work together to develop refreshing experience while diverse tourist attractions and indulging in midnight cinema. festivals. The Taebaek Festival, which begins in early October, is held annually. This is a local citizens' Mt. Taebaek and Nature festival in which approximately sixty- Mt. Taebaek (1,567m) is the center thousand Taebaek residents of Baekdudaegan. The name participate in a variety of events Taebaek was derived originally that range from literary and from the fact that the mountain was traditional activities to popular a place where people came to pray. sporting events. Mt. Taebaek is one of the nation's Another seasonal festival is the twelve most famous mountains and Mt. Taebaek Snow Festival. The is very popular among tourists here. wintertime event is held on Mt. Two attractions are the Taebaek Taebaek, which is renowned for its Coal Museum and Yongyon Cave. snow-covered landscape and winter mountain climbing. The festival includes varied events, such as an ice-carving contest, snow sled races, and a national climbing competition.

Excitement and Tradition Taebaek is only 25 kilometers from Casino Resort, which offers a variety of convenient facilities, including quality restaurants and accommodations. Taebaek city is an ideal choice for casino-goers who want to relax. As the city behind the Casino Resort, Taebaek is emerging as a highland city of tourism, centering on fifteen different leisure complexes, a motor sports complex, nature parks, and more. Taebaek is an exciting city that has preserved its history and traditions in harmony with nature.

Northern Intercity News 9

Jiamusi is located in Heilonjiang Province, China, between the Songhua River and the Xiao Xing'an mountain range. Jiamusi covers an area of 32,562 square kilometers and has jurisdiction over five districts, four counties, and two subordinate cities. It includes twenty-nine state farms, and four state forestry administrations. Jiamusi is inhabited by 2.3 million people of 34 nationalities, including Han, Hul, Man, Korean, Hezhe, and others. Jiamusi stretches along a 448 kilometer border with and is the center of politics, economy, culture, science, education, and communication in the eastern area of Heilongjiang.

At the confluence of three rivers, the Heilongjiang, the Wusuli, and the Songhua, lies the fertile and alluvial Three Rivers Plain. This area in Heilongjiang Province, China, is one of the largest stretches of black earth in the world. In the hinterland of the plain, lies Jiamusi, a developing, multifunctional city. According to historical records, Jiamusi was founded more than one hundred years ago. A military map of the Shengjing, Jilin, and Heilongjiang area drawn during the Jiamusi forty-third year of the reign of

Emperor Qian Long (Qing dynasty, 1778), mentions Jiamusi. In the Nature Abounds fourteenth year of the reign of Nature has provided Jiamusi with Emperor Guang Xu, also of the its beautiful setting. In early spring, Qing dynasty (1888), a large town apricot trees are in bloom and fields named Dongfeng was founded, are covered with blankets of green. which was the beginning of Jiamusi. In midsummer golden waves of Since then, Dongfeng has been a wheat roll over fields and green center of business and trade. The mountain slopes rise and fall across town underwent major development the landscape. In midautumn, and was renamed Jiamusi City in birches are strikingly beautiful and 1937. streams are extremely clear. In Jiamusi experienced a history of midwinter, a silver-colored world blood, fire, humiliation, and honor in presents itself. the years of the War of Resistance Primitive conifer woods can still Against Japan (1937–1945), when be found in this region and are it was a base for the Allied Forces. regarded as one of China's natural Among the forces of resistance treasures. Coal, granite, graphite, emerged many national heroes who and peat reserves are extensive. were loyal to the resistance until The rich black earth in the Jiamusi their heroic deaths, such as general area offers an abundance of rice, Zhao Shangzhi. During the years of soya-beans, wheat, and corn. The China's Liberation War, in rivers are rich with fish, including sturgeon and salmon, and the compliance with the strategic plan of the Central Committee of the green hills are inhabited by bears, Communist Party of China (CPC), deer, swans, and wild cranes. some CPC leaders and a large The waterways are vast and number of revolutionary soldiers unlocked for shipping. Since a river- gathered in the city. Jiamusi was, and ocean-coordinated shipping therefore, called the small Yan'an of system was developed in the northeast China during this period. 1980s, ships have been able to northeast China during this period. reach any port in the world. Among

the five open riverside towns or The New Jiamusi cities, Tongjiang and Fuyuan are After the establishment of the very close to Russia across the People's Republic of China, Jiamusi river. Both sides can even hear the grew into a new and developing cries of each other's fowl and dogs. center for papermaking, chemical Frequent contact and mutual industry, building materials, support create good neighbors. manufacture of agricultural Reaching out with warm hands, machinery, and sugar refining. Jiamusi welcomes friends from all Since the 1980s, when China over the world. Come and build a entered a new era of socialist brighter future together with us. development, Jiamusi has been praised as model of mutual support between the army and local people. Jiamusi was also recipient of the nationwide Cleanest City Award for several consecutive years. At present, Jiamusi is striving to become the safest and most advanced city in China. Since policies of reform and openness were begun, Jiamusi has become a major agriculture zone. Agriculture development has reached an advanced level here with annual grain output reaching 2.5 billion kilograms. Technological innovations have contributed significantly to five major industries: food production, machinery, papermaking, building materials, and chemicals.

Northern Intercity News 10

As the capital of Greenland, Nuuk is an administrative center and the site of Greenland's Home Rule Government, as well as the headquarters of businesses such as the Royal Greenland Co., one of the largest fish exporters and processors in the world. In addition to administration and fisheries, Nuuks' modern Atlantic harbor is a center for construction and handicrafts are fishing trawlers in the Arctic region. also prominent employers. Nuuk's importance is also characterized by Climate, Sport, Education in facilities such as Greenland's Arts Centre, Katuaq, where residents of Nuuk Nuuk meet to enjoy concerts and The climate of Nuuk is subarctic, theater. Katuaq's cinema enjoys the with average temperatures of 7 status of a premier facility. degrees celsius in July and -8 The municipality of Nuuk has degrees in January. The closeness 14,500 residents, of whom just over of the town to the coast ensures a 14,000 live in the town of Nuuk. relatively high snowfall each The municipality is winter—much to the delight of all large—approximately 87,000 children. Nuuk lies 250 kilometers square kilometers, or twice the size south of the Arctic Circle and the of Denmark. days are very short in December Nuuk itself lies at the outlet of with the sun rising at 10 A.M. and Godthåb Fjord. The fjord system, setting at 2:30 P.M. On the other hand, there is daylight 24 hours a which comprises a number of islands and smaller fjords, is similar day from the end of May to the in size to the Faeroe Islands and beginning of August in Nuuk. forms the framework for the open- There are many opportunities for air life of the community—especially sports enthusiasts in Nuuk. The during the summer. Hunting and town has a sports hall, and there fishing are among the most popular are several smaller halls in activities. connection with schools. Winter Nuuk and its suburb, Nuussuaq, sports are catered to with an are spread over a relatively large extensive network of ski runs area, but an efficient bus service around the town as well as several running at 15-minute intervals ski lifts, and now efforts are being ensures that travel in the area is made to organize ice-skating. It convenient and inexpensive. There should also be mentioned that Nuuk are approximately 100 kilometers of has the only grass golf course in asphalt roads and the town is also Greenland. crisscrossed by a comprehensive Nuuk has a well-functioning system of skiing paths. education system. The Nuuk The municipality of Nuuk has a municipal council has clear high level of service, which bears objectives with regard to modern comparison with most Danish technology, and schools are well municipalities. The general tax rate equipped with computers. All at Nuuk is 40 percent, including schools are linked in a network with national tax. access to the internet from all workplaces. Finally, the municipality is taking vigorous steps to secure

the further training of teachers.

Northern Intercity News 11

The city of is located in the southeastern economic zone of Heilongjiang Province, China. Jixi has an area of 22,581 square kilometers and a population of 1.94 million. Jixi was founded in 1957 and has jurisdiction over two cities, one county, and six districts. Jixi has two first-class national land ports—Mishan and Hulin, and the city posesses a solid transportation network with excellent rail and highway systems. Jixi has a well-developed infrastructure, including post and telecommunications.

Jixi enjoys unbounded natural beauty and rich resources. More than 40 varieties of minerals are found here, including prominent supplies of coal, graphite, and petroleum. Jixi possesses about eight billion tons of coal deposits, and coal output is 30 million tons a year. Graphite deposits here are 800 million tons, the largest in Asia, Kylin Mountains scenic resort area in Jixi. and output is 70 thousand tons (photo: Li Dafu) annually. The city is the most prominent crystal graphite base in Education and Culture China. There are six institutions of higher Jixi has five small areas of learning in Jixi, 12 polytechnic petroleum recovery in Hulin. The schools, 152 senior middle schools, area also has deposits of gold, 126 junior middle schools, and 662 peat, potassium, marble, dolomite, primary schools. phosphate, platinum, and palladium. During the New Year and the Spring Festival, Jixi holds the Ice Industrial Development Lamp Exhibition, the Yangge Dancing Festival, and other winter Jixi•Ls developed industries include events. The Jinji Culture and Arts metallurgy, machinery, chemicals, Festival and the Xingkai Lake power generation, building Culture and Arts Festival are held in materials, textiles, and food July each year to enrich the cultural processing. Jixi is the second lives of the residents here. All of largest production base of coal in these events contribute to favorable China. Jixi Coal Mining Machinery economic conditions in Jixi. Plant is the production and research center for coal-mining machinery in China. Its production Tourism is first in Asia and second The uniqueness of Jixi and its many worldwide. attractions make the city a prominent tourist destination. Agricultural Production Situated in the local Kylin Mountains is a 44 square kilometer Jixi has always enjoyed the resort and vacation district that reputation of being a land of fish includes beautiful mountain scenery and rice. It also abounds in and an artificial lake where visitors soybeans, maize, corn, Chinese can enjoy swimming and skiing. sorghum, and other products. Jixi is The area also contains villas for an important base of commodity accommodation and an amusement grains in Heilongjiang Province. park. Visitors enjoy climbing The area of Jixi is 33.7 million mu Shending Peak in Hulin in summer. (2.25 million ha.), about a third of Xinkai Lake and the Wushuli River which is under cultivation. Jixi has with Zhenbao Island are areas of 43 reservoirs 85 rivers, and 12.9 famous natural beauty. million mu (860 thousand ha.) of forests. More than a hundred types of wild medicinal herbs are found in Jixi, including astragalus membanaceous, ciwujia, schisandra chinensis, rough gentian, and others. The amount harvested is five thousand tons. Wildlife here includes deer, bears, and tigers.

Northern Intercity News 12

Temperatures of -49•‹ Hit Second Winter Disaster in a Capital Row Ulaanbaatar, the capital of The 2000–2001 dzud has come Mongolia, has suffered with the rest before the nation had adequate of the nation through its most time to recover from the winter of severe winter in decades. The 1999–2000, which was almost as winter weather disaster here—or severe as the present one. Last dzud—has meant extremely frigid winter about three million head of cold accompanied by very heavy livestock died as a result of severe snowfalls. cold and snow, bringing economic Sansar Jiimen, director of the devastation to almost half a million International Relations and livestock herders in Mongolia, Cooperation Department at city hall which has a population of about 2.3 in Ulaanbaatar, reports that million. temperatures dropped to record On top of the disaster of last lows in the city this winter, winter, Mongolia was hit by drought disrupting the municipal heating last summer. Temperatures system and forcing residents of surpassed 35•‹C (95•‹F), and with some apartments to seek little rain, grass was unable to alternative heat sources or regenerate properly, and livestock emergency housing. Mr. Sansar could not build the necessary bulk also reported that two preschools to survive another harsh winter. were forced to close down because of the extreme temperatures. International Relief Efforts The city of Ulaanbaatar utilizes a The government of Mongolia had centralized heating system that prepared for the dzud and has distributes heated water to city provided relief to families affected. structures and to outlying areas. However, the two consecutive Because of the extreme cold, the winter weather disasters have system was unable to provide heat overstretched the resources to housing in some suburban available for assistance, and the districts. Temperatures in United Nations Resident Ulaanbaatar have averaged around Coordinator System in Mongolia -37•‹C (-34.6•‹F) during the coldest has appealed for international periods. The record this winter was - emergency relief aid. 49•‹C (-56.2•‹F).

IAMNC Subcommittee on Effect of Severe Cold on Countermeasures Against Mongolia Natural Disasters The effect of the dzud on the rural Winter disasters, such as the one areas of the nation has been even experienced by Ulaanbaatar, are of worse than the consequences for interest to the IAMNC Ulaanbaatar. Blizzards winds in Subcommittee on Countermeasures excess of a hundred kilometers per Against Natural Disasters. The hour hit Mongolia this winter, subcommittee was created at the resulting in fatalities among ninth Mayors Conference in Kiruna herders. For the 2000–2001 winter, and Luleå, and members have projections estimate losses of up to recently begun to survey natural 6.6 million animals or about 21 disasters in member winter cities. percent of the nation's livestock Ulaanbaatar is a member of the total by June. In a country in which International Association of Mayors herding is a livelihood for much of of Northern Cities. the rural population, the effect is to undermine the security of many families. For many rural Mongolians, livestock are the source of food, transportation, and purchasing power. If herds are depleted, many people will fall below the subsistence level.