What is the approximate length of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System?

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is approximately 800 miles long. It carries crude oil from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope to the marine terminal at Valdez in southern Alaska.

The pipeline was built after the Prudhoe Bay oil field was discovered in 1968. Construction began in 1974, and oil first flowed through the system in 1977. Its route crosses difficult terrain, including permafrost, mountain ranges, and earthquake-prone areas.

Much of the pipeline is elevated so warm oil does not thaw the permanently frozen ground beneath it. The line uses zigzag sections and supports designed to accommodate thermal expansion and ground movement. Valdez provides tanker access because it is an ice-free port connected to the Gulf of Alaska.