Newtok is a small, primarily Yup'ik community and census-designated place (CDP) in western Alaska. It is located in the Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta region and has attracted national attention because the village is being moved inland to escape severe coastal erosion, river migration and warming permafrost.

Geography and setting

Newtok sits on low-lying riverine terrain near the Bering Sea within a broad tundra delta. The surrounding landscape includes braided rivers, wetlands and coastal marshes that support fish and waterfowl. The community's location made traditional subsistence activities such as fishing, hunting and gathering central to local life.

History and culture

The village is overwhelmingly Indigenous, with residents maintaining Yup'ik language, customs and subsistence practices. Like many remote Alaskan villages, Newtok has been accessible mainly by air and water; roads to larger population centers are not present. Local governance combines tribal institutions and regional organizations.

Relocation: causes and response

Beginning in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, accelerated erosion, seasonal flooding and thawing permafrost undermined houses, community infrastructure and graveyards. These hazards led residents and government agencies to plan a community relocation to higher ground at a site called Mertarvik on nearby Nelson Island.

  • Causes: coastal erosion, storm surge, river channel changes, permafrost degradation.
  • Response: multi-agency planning, construction of roads, housing and utilities at the new site.
  • Status: phased relocation over years, combining local labor and external funding.

Economy and services

Economic life in Newtok revolves around subsistence harvests supplemented by seasonal and public-sector employment. Basic services have included a school, health clinic and tribal offices, though lack of road access and climate impacts complicate logistics and supply delivery.

Notable facts and significance

Newtok is often cited in discussions of climate adaptation and managed retreat because it illustrates the practical, cultural and financial challenges of moving an entire community. Its relocation efforts are used as a case study in resilience planning, intergovernmental coordination and Indigenous-led adaptation.