Uploaded on 2015-06-13 by ThomasMinelga

![enter image description here][1] The image above is of Eklutna Lake, which is Anchorage's main reservoir for drinking water and is also used for generating hydroelectric power. The lake itself, which is replenished by glacial melt, represents a stock. The water then flows out through an intake tunnel to generate electricity and enter into the city's water system to supply the needs of its residents. As is evidenced by the shoreline in the photo, the water levels of the lake vary year to year depending on how much glacial melt enters into the lake and how much is taken from it. If managed carefully, it has the potential to continue to supply Anchorage with cheap, clean water and energy for the foreseeable future, making it an attractive place to live and do business. However, the glacier will eventually disappear and other options will need to be considered. ![enter image description here][2] Freight is also an important flow in Anchorage. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International airport is the fifth busiest airport by cargo volume in the world and handles a lot of freight going to and from Asia. Both Fedex and UPS operate major hubs here and stimulate the local economy by providing good jobs. For this example one could also say that Anchorage’s geographical location is a permanent stock, which ensures that it will continue to be a major cargo corridor into the future. UPS and Fedex predict a large growth in traffic in the coming years as global trade increases and will be expanding their facilities accordingly. This will benefit the city by providing even more jobs. ![enter image description here][3] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14342231341233351.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14342232221070.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1434223239997028.jpg Alaska is a vast state with a small population, and the paved road system is still underdeveloped due to many people living in rural areas where difficult terrain and high construction cost keep paving from being an effective option. The freezing and thawing of the ground also creates upheavals that damage the pavement adding to maintenance costs. As a result many roads in Alaska are gravel roads, which are much more cost effective to build and maintain. The demand for gravel for road building and general construction is an important flow in Anchorage and has created a small industry around it. The rocks being crushed into gravel represent a stock and that gravel then flows out to other areas in the state. Barring a great increase in the urbanization of rural areas, I believe gravel production will continue to be a vital industry for Anchorage into the future.