Mushers and their dogs head out on the 1800 kms route across Alaska.

Sonny Lindner's team races down Cordova Street, greeting spectators as they go, during the ceremonial start to the Iditarod dog sled race in downtown Anchorage. The race officially started the day after in Willow, Alaska (Reuters)

Dallas Seavey, 25, winner of the 2012 Iditarod, prepares his team. He is the youngest winner of the historic race to date (Reuters)

A dog belonging to Nicolas Petit's team awaits the official start of the Iditarod race (Reuters)