Alaska's Iditarod: "The last great race"

Despite needing seven train car loads of snow hauled in, the Iditarod dog-sled race began in Anchorage, Alaska on March 5, 2016. Eighty five teams took part in a shortened parade route and the ceremonial start of the nearly 1,000 mile (1,600 km) journey through Alaska's rugged wilderness.

Here, four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King and his team leave the ceremonial start of the race, formally known as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, March 5. The internationally known race traditionally takes place in extremely frigid weather.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Dogs get excited at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to begin their 1,000-mile (1,600-km) journey ending in Nome, Alaska.

With the advent of snowmobiles, the annual race was originally organized in 1973 to help save the region's dog-sled culture and Alaskan huskies, while also preserving the historical Iditarod trail between Seward and Nome. The old trail was used to get to the gold fields of Alaska and was a major route through the area for mail delivery and other essential needs.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Alaskan musher DeeDee Jonrowe and Senator Lisa Murkowski get ready to head to the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska on March 5, 2016.

The trail goes one direction in even years (the northerly route) and the other direction in odd years (the southerly route). Both sections are part of the historical trail and used so the race does not impact the same small towns year after year. Alternating routes also allows the races to go through the actual ghost town of Iditarod and let more villages to participate.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

A musher handler with Alan Eischen's team embraces one of Eischen's dogs just before the ceremonial start of the race on March 5, 2016.

Colder temperatures are better for the sled dogs, who are used to below zero frigid weather. The last two years Alaska has experienced warmer than usual temperatures.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Rob Cooke and his team leave the ceremonial start of the race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 5, 2016.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

A team heads out at the ceremonial start of the race in downtown Anchorage, Alaska March 5, 2016. The lack of snow in the area is evident.

In the 2015 race, lack of snow also posed a problem resulting in the start of the race being moved to Fairbanks.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Zoya DeNure races through downtown at the ceremonial start of the race in Anchorage, Alaska March 5, 2016.

The first woman to win the race was Mary Shields in in 1974. Libby Riddles was the first woman to win the race in 1985.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Musher Justin Savidis' dogs wait in the truck before the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska March 6, 2016.

After the ceremonial start in Anchorage on March 5, the official start took place the next day in Willow, about 50 miles north of capital.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Champion musher Martin Buser's son, Rohn, is seen with his father's team before the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska March 6, 2016.

Approximately 1,000 sled dogs participate in the race in teams of 16.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Travis Beals' team waits in the truck before the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Willow, Alaska March 6, 2016.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Cody Strathe's team leaves the restart of the race in Willow, Alaska, March 6, 2016.

The teams are competing for $70,000 in prize money.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Mitch Seavey's team leaves the start chute at the restart of the race in Willow, Alaska, March 6, 2016.

The first race took the winner, Dick Wilmarth, three weeks to cross the finish line. The current record was set in 2014 by Dallas Seavey, who finished in 8 days, 13 hours, 4 minutes and 19 seconds.

Dallas Seavey is also the youngest musher to win at age 25 in 2012. Mitch Seavey, Dallas' father, is the oldest person to ever win the race at the age of 53 in 2013.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Four-time champion Martin Buser and team leave the start chute at the restart of the race in Willow, Alaska March 6, 2016.

Winners become local celebrities.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Cindy Gallea's team crosses a lake after the restart in Willow, Alaska March 6, 2016.

2016 Iditarod dog-sled race

Rob Cooke's team leaves the start chute at the restart of the race in Willow, Alaska March 6, 2016.