Downtown Anchorage, Alaska, was turned into a giant dog lot on Saturday as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race held its 53rd annual ceremonial start in Alaska’s largest city.

The Iditarod, now in its 53rd year, is the largest and most popular dog sled race in the world. "The Last Great Race on Earth" takes place in Alaska each March, as mushers and teams of 12-14 dogs race through the wilderness from Anchorage to Nome.

The world’s most famous sled dog race is longer this year than ever before.Thanks to a lack of snow, this year's edition of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race nee