Located along the Ninglick River in western Alaska, the village of Newtok has been facing severe erosion and permafrost melting due to the impacts of climate change. Over the years, the land has been disappearing at an alarming rate, with about 70 feet eroding annually, leaving behind dilapidated homes and a community in distress.
In response to the environmental challenges, the residents of Newtok have embarked on a large-scale relocation to Mertarvik, a new townsite on Nelson Island, approximately 9 miles away. This move marks one of the first instances of an Alaska Native village relocating due to climate change.
