Interactive Journey through the Arctic Refuge - Rich in Resources

Wildlife

Two hundred and twenty-five species, from polar bears to plovers, live in the mountains, sea, and rivers of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The region remains a vital habitat for a wealth of flora and fauna. Despite the protection provided by its remote inaccessibility, rising temperatures or an oilfield could devastate the ecosystem.

Flora

Due to the harsh climate of the region, the plant life found in the Arctic National Refuge has adapted to brutal conditions. Some flowers grow in clumps to shelter themselves from the wind. Lichen can grow on rocks and helps break them down into soil, allowing mosses and other shallow-rooted plants to grow as well.

Water Purity

Clean, pure water is becoming increasingly hard to find. Yet the fast flowing, cold, and frozen water resources of the verdant Arctic National Wildlife Refuge support a myriad of life, from microbes to mega fauna.

Geology

The Brooks Range was created between 20 and 65 million years ago, when the Arctic Alaska Microplate collided with the crust of a plate to the south. The mountains are one of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s most distinctive geological features.