The bronze dog Balto standing in Central Park, is polished to a Shine back and ears. Solid bronze tirelessly ironed thousands of children's hands, caressing the legendary dog. In 1925, Balto saved from the death of tiny children polar town of Nome.

Town on the Bering sea is the brainchild of the gold rush that erupted in Alaska in the late nineteenth century. Then gold is over, and here there are only 1400 residents, the long Arctic winter, cut off from civilization. 20 January 1925 radio station Noma gave the distress signal: in the city – an outbreak of diphtheria, serum no, started dying children.

Serum was in Seattle, at 1600 miles from Nome. Throw it in the air it was impossible: hell frost froze the engine of the plane. By train package delivered to the town of Nenana, but the last 650 miles had to overcome sled dog teams. Two dozen desperate mushers in turn drove their sleds with all possible speed. The Blizzard intensified, the temperature quickly dropped (from minus 30 to minus 50 degrees).

At the final stage of the race package with serum took the Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen. His team was led by Balto, the dog breed husky. He was not considered a strong leader, but this route has shown an amazing will and courage. Burst into such a storm that Kaasen not seen with your own hands and lost track of everything. The sled moved, guided only by instinct Balto. A terrible gust of wind lifted the sled and dogs in the air, the package with the serum fell through the snow, Kaasen found it a miracle. February 2, Balto after vosmidesyatikratnoe run brought the exhausted team into Nome. They were greeted as saviors.

In a matter of days Balto became a national hero. A film was made with the hero of Alaska in the title role. In 1926, the sculptor Frederick Roth has carved dog statue for Central Park – Balto was present at the official opening of the monument. Plaque with description of his heroism ends with three words: "Endurance, fidelity, intelligence".

After a brief triumph of heroism quickly forgotten, Balto got into bad hands, performed in Los Angeles in the show, here he was mistreated. Saved him a businessman from Cleveland George Kimble – bought, brought to his native city, where, after a welcome parade dog lived in the zoo. There Balto lived in honor and contentment. He died in 1933 at the age of eleven. The Cleveland Museum now exhibited his effigy.

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