In the bronze dog Balto standing in Central Park - polished to a shine back and ears. Solid bronze constantly smoothed thousands of children's hands, caressing the legendary dog. In 1925, Balto saved from deaths of children a tiny polar town of Nome.

The town is on the shore of the Bering Sea - the brainchild of "gold fever" that erupted in Alaska in the late XIX century. Then the gold ran out, and there remained only 1,400 residents, the long Arctic winter, cut off from civilization. January 20, 1925 Noma station transmits a signal of distress: in the city - a flash of diphtheria serum no children began to die.

Serum was found in Seattle, for 1600 kilometers from Nome. Throw it in the air it was impossible: the infernal frost frozen engine aircraft. By train package was delivered to the town of Nenana, but the last 650 kilometers to overcome dogsled. Two dozen desperate mushers in turn drove their teams with all possible speed. Snowstorm intensified, the temperature quickly dropped (from minus 30 to minus 50 degrees).

At the final stage of the race package with serum accepted Norwegian Gunnar Kaas. His harness was led by Balto, husky dog ​​breed. It was not considered the most powerful leader, but on this route showed remarkable will and courage. Such a storm broke that Kaas did not see their own hands and lost all orientation. Moving team, led by instinct only Balto. A terrible gust of wind lifted the sled and dogs into the air bag with the serum fell through the snow, Kaas found it a miracle. February 2 after Balto vosmidesyatikilometrovogo path led troubled team to Nome. They were welcomed as saviors.

In a matter of days Balto became a national hero. It was filmed with a Alaska hero in the lead role. In 1926, the sculptor Frederic Roth carved statue of a dog to Central Park - Balto was present at the official opening of the monument. The sign describing his heroism ends with three words: "Endurance, fidelity, intelligence."

After a brief triumph of the feat was quickly forgotten, Balto got into wrong hands, appeared in Los Angeles in a show here with him mistreated. Saved him from Cleveland businessman George Kimble - bought, brought to his hometown, where, after a welcome parade dog lived in a zoo. There Balto lived in high esteem and contentment. He died in 1933 at the age of eleven. The museum is now Cleveland's put it stuffed.

Bronze also meets children Balto in Central Park - his muscles tensed, ears alert, as if he still hears the call of duty and ready to overcome darkness, blizzards, fear.