Nonstop flight route between Selawik, Alaska, United States and Des Moines, Iowa, United States:
Departure Airport:
(66°35'59"N by 159°59'8"W)
Arrival Airport:
(41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W)
Distance from WLK to DSM:
2,990.91 miles (4,813.40 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- WLK Airport Information
- DSM Airport Information
- Facts about WLK
- Facts about DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to WLK
- List of Nearest Airports to WLK
- Map of Furthest Airports from WLK
- List of Furthest Airports from WLK
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSM
- List of Nearest Airports to DSM
- Map of Furthest Airports from DSM
- List of Furthest Airports from DSM
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Selawik Airport (WLK), Selawik, Alaska, United States and Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,991 miles (or 4,813 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Selawik Airport and Des Moines International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Selawik Airport and Des Moines International Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | WLK / PASK |
| Airport Name: | Selawik Airport |
| Location: | Selawik, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 66°35'59"N by 159°59'8"W |
| Area Served: | Selawik, Alaska |
| Operator/Owner: | Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 17 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WLK |
| More Information: | WLK Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | DSM / KDSM |
| Airport Name: | Des Moines International Airport |
| Location: | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W |
| Area Served: | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Des Moines |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 958 feet (292 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DSM |
| More Information: | DSM Maps & Info |
Facts about Selawik Airport (WLK):
- The closest airport to Selawik Airport (WLK) is Bob Baker Memorial Airport (IAN), which is located 29 miles (46 kilometers) NNW of WLK.
- The furthest airport from Selawik Airport (WLK) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 10,219 miles (16,446 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.
- Because of Selawik Airport's relatively low elevation of 17 feet, planes can take off or land at Selawik Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Selawik Airport (WLK) has 2 runways.
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- The closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
- The airport hosts the Des Moines Air National Guard Base and 132d Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard.
- Because of Des Moines International Airport's relatively low elevation of 958 feet, planes can take off or land at Des Moines International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- In addition to work inside the passenger terminal, the airport is building a rental car facility and new parking facilities.
- The furthest airport from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,789 miles (17,363 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- On December 2, 1978, Douglas C-47A N41447 of SMB Stage Line crashed short of the runway while on a cargo flight from Chicago, Illinois.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 28.72 miles (46.23 km) NNW | Bob Baker Memorial Airport (IAN) | Kiana, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 32.05 miles (51.59 km) WNW | Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport (ORV) | Noorvik, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 53.57 miles (86.21 km) SW | Buckland Airport (BKC) | Buckland, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 67.58 miles (108.76 km) ENE | Ambler Airport (ABL) | Ambler, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 73.94 miles (119.00 km) WNW | Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (OTZ) | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 79.54 miles (128.01 km) ENE | Shungnak Airport (SHG) | Shungnak, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 85.37 miles (137.40 km) WSW | Deering Airport (DRG) | Deering, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 86.93 miles (139.90 km) ENE | Kobuk Airport (OBU) | Kobuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 87.24 miles (140.39 km) ENE | Dahl Creek Airport (DCK) | Dahl Creek, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 90.41 miles (145.50 km) SSW | Granite Mountain Air Station (GMT) | Granite Mountain, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 102.14 miles (164.38 km) SSW | Haycock Airport (HAY) | Haycock, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 104.39 miles (168.00 km) NW | Noatak Airport (WTK) | Noatak, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 119.12 miles (191.71 km) ESE | Huslia Airport (HSL) | Huslia, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 119.42 miles (192.18 km) SSW | Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport (KKA) | Koyuk, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 135.23 miles (217.63 km) SSE | Koyukuk Airport (KYU) | Koyukuk, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,218.84 miles (16,445.58 km) ESE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 2 | 10,182.75 miles (16,387.51 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,181.51 miles (16,385.50 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,171.80 miles (16,369.88 km) S | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,136.38 miles (16,312.88 km) S | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 10,095.68 miles (16,247.37 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 9,988.35 miles (16,074.65 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 9,930.16 miles (15,981.01 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 9 | 9,883.15 miles (15,905.35 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 10 | 9,876.17 miles (15,894.12 km) S | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 9,874.67 miles (15,891.70 km) SSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 12 | 9,874.47 miles (15,891.37 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 9,867.10 miles (15,879.52 km) SSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 9,857.85 miles (15,864.64 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 15 | 9,857.85 miles (15,864.64 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11.96 miles (19.24 km) NNE | Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV) | Ankeny, Iowa, United States | |
| 2 | 31.72 miles (51.05 km) N | Ames Municipal Airport (AMW) | Ames, Iowa, United States | |
| 3 | 32.71 miles (52.64 km) NW | Perry Municipal Airport (PRO) | Perry, Iowa, United States | |
| 4 | 34.53 miles (55.57 km) ENE | Newton Municipal Airport (TNU) | Newton, Iowa, United States | |
| 5 | 36.87 miles (59.33 km) NNW | Boone Municipal Airport (BNW) | Boone, Iowa, United States | |
| 6 | 50.75 miles (81.68 km) SW | Creston Municipal Airport (CSQ) | Creston, Iowa, United States | |
| 7 | 63.25 miles (101.79 km) N | Webster City Municipal Airport (EBS) | Webster City, Iowa, United States | |
| 8 | 67.94 miles (109.34 km) WNW | Arthur N. Neu Airport (CIN) | Carroll, Iowa, United States | |
| 9 | 69.61 miles (112.03 km) ESE | Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) | Ottumwa, Iowa, United States | |
| 10 | 72.18 miles (116.16 km) W | Atlantic Municipal Airport (AIO) | Atlantic, Iowa, United States | |
| 11 | 75.34 miles (121.25 km) NNW | Fort Dodge Regional Airport (FOD) | Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States | |
| 12 | 88.26 miles (142.04 km) NNW | Humboldt Municipal Airport (HUD) | Humboldt, Iowa, United States | |
| 13 | 93.36 miles (150.25 km) ESE | Fairfield Municipal Airport (FFL) | Fairfield, Iowa, United States | |
| 14 | 93.88 miles (151.09 km) WNW | Denison Municipal Airport (DNS) | Denison, Iowa, United States | |
| 15 | 95.89 miles (154.31 km) NE | Waterloo Regional Airport (Livingston Betsworth Field) (ALO) | Waterloo, Iowa, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,788.59 miles (17,362.52 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,765.59 miles (17,325.49 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,745.72 miles (17,293.52 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,741.55 miles (17,286.81 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,702.16 miles (17,223.42 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,688.11 miles (17,200.80 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,679.91 miles (17,187.60 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,678.27 miles (17,184.97 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,663.64 miles (17,161.42 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,650.61 miles (17,140.45 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,620.66 miles (17,092.25 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,595.70 miles (17,052.09 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,572.70 miles (17,015.07 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,567.93 miles (17,007.39 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,547.73 miles (16,974.88 km) WSW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |