Log Booms Protect the Alaska Highway
Muncho Lake, British Columbia, Canada
The Alaska Highway was built as fast as possible, so the original route avoided obstacles in the terrain wherever it could. But there was no way past Muncho Lake. The road had to thread its way along the base of the mountains that come down to the northern shore of the lake, in places very steeply. There are stories of bulldozers that slid into the lake and were never recovered.
Because the road runs right along the shore it is subject to constant erosion from waves kicked up by the strong northern winds. The Army Engineers hit upon an ingenious solution. Logs are chained to the shore as a floating breakwater.
Next: Alluvial Fan at Muncho Lake