What is ANWR and where is it located?
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is one of Alaska’s crown jewels in the Arctic region and encompasses 19.6 million acres in remote northeastern Alaska. The refuge straddles the eastern Brooks Range from the treeless Arctic Coast to the taiga of the Porcupine River Valley.
Where and how large is ANWR when did ANWR come into existence?
It was established in 1960 as Arctic National Wildlife Range with an area of approximately 13,900 square miles (36,000 square km) and was expanded and renamed Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 1980.
What kind of natural geographical features does ANWR have within its boundaries?
The Arctic coastal plain stretches southward from the coast to the foothills of the Brooks Range. This area of rolling hills, small lakes, and north-flowing, braided rivers is dominated by tundra vegetation consisting of low shrubs, sedges, and mosses.
How many square miles is ANWR?
30,136 mi²
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge/Area
How many animals live in ANWR?
Arctic Refuge is home to some of the most diverse and spectacular wildlife in the arctic. The Refuge’s rich pageant of wildlife includes 42 fish species, 37 land mammals, eight marine mammals, and more than 200 migratory and resident bird species.
Is Arctic National Wildlife Refuge public land?
PUBLIC LAND The Arctic Refuge covers 19.6 million acres in northeast Alaska, and includes the Mollie Beattie Wilderness, the second largest wilderness area in the U.S. at 8 million acres.
Does anyone live in ANWR?
In North America, our Arctic is populated by both the Inupiaq and Gwich’in. While both adventure seekers and residents travel within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, there are two permanent villages whose livelihoods are tied to the Arctic Refuge and have been for thousands of years: Kaktovik and Arctic Village.
Is the Arctic wildlife refuge public land?
How did Tyler and Ashley Selden get to live in Alaska?
Tyler, a Nebraskan, and Ashley met when they were in college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. They moved to Alaska a couple of days after their wedding. Some relatives have visited the Seldens in Alaska. “We try to come home (to Minnesota) every year or so.” Ashley said.
What lives in the ANWR?
The reserve is also home to spectacular terrestrial and marine mammals, including grizzly bears, polar bears, caribou, wolves, and wolverines, as well as beluga whales, bowhead whales, walruses, and several species of seals.
Why is the Alaskan national wildlife refuge in the news?
The Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) on Alaska’s North Slope is frequently in the news because petroleum geologists estimate that there are billions of barrels of economically recoverable oil beneath the surface of its frozen tundra.
How are polar bears related to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is directly connected to Polar Bears. These bears are known for traveling in the region to den and give birth. Nearly 50 of these species migrate along the coast to the refuge in September. These bears extend more than 800 miles along the coast of Northern Alaska and Canada.
Where is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge located?
The question of whether to drill for oil in the National Wildlife Arctic Refuge has been a political controversy since 1977. The debate mainly concerns section 1002 in the ANWR. Section 1002 is located on the coastal plain where many of the Arctic’s diverse wildlife species reside.
Where is Section 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The section of 1002 is located on the coastal plain where many of the Arctic’s diverse wildlife species preside. The usage of section 1002 in ANWR depends on the amount of oil worldwide. There are two sides of this debate: support for drilling and the opposition of drilling.
