|
Description:
The Arctic Refuge includes a unique diversity of pristine habitats offering exceptional wildlife, wilderness, recreation, scientific and aesthetic values. The area includes an assemblage of plant and animal communities found nowhere else in the circumpolar region. There are 8 million acres of designated wilderness and three designated wild rivers. Habitats vary from tundra to taiga forests and mountians to wetlands. These habitats support unusually diverse wildlife populations. The huge Porcupine Caribou Herd, over 150,000 animals, depends upon the Refuge. All three species of North American bears (black, grizzly and polar) are found here as are muskox, Dall sheep, moose, wolverine, wolf, arctic fox, red fox, lynx, marten and snowshoe hare. Arctic Grayling and Dolly Varden are abundant in Refuge rivers. Bowhead whales and ringed seals are found off the coast. About 180 species of migratory and resident birds have been seen on the Refuge. The coastal plain is especially important as the calving area for the Porcupine caribou herd, and for nesting and feeding shorebirds and waterfowl during the summer. Well over 100,000 snow geese stage on the refuge in preparation for fall migration. The Refuge also supports the northernmost breeding populations of golden eagles and arctic peregrine falcons. Directions:
An undisturbed wilderness, the Arctic Refuge remains roadless. Limited access is provided by the Dalton Highway (a gravel road) which passes the western tip of the refuge. Most of the refuge is accessible only by aircraft. From Fairbanks, most visitors take a commercial flight to Fort Yukon, Deadhorse, or Kaktovik, and charter a smaller bush plane into the refuge from there.
|
