Editing Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Arctic National Wildlife.jpg|thumb|Natural-color satellite image of the refuge. Thick white lines delineate refuge boundaries, and thin white lines separate areas within the park.]]
[[File:Anwrmap.jpg|thumb|Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Map.]]The Arctic is mostly an ocean surrounded by land. The Arctic is relatively covered by water, much of it is frozen. The [[glacier]]s and [[iceberg]]s in the Arctic make up about 10% of Earth's land area. Most of the Arctic's liquid [[Saline water|saltwater]] is from the Arctic Ocean's basin. Some parts of the ocean's surface are frozen all or most of the year. The Arctic area is mainly known for sea ice surrounding the region. The Arctic experiences extreme solar radiation. During the [[Northern Hemisphere]]'s winter months, the Arctic experiences cold and darkness which makes it one of the unique places on [[Earth]].
North America's two largest [[Alpine Lakes Wilderness|alpine lakes]] (Peters and Schrader) are located inside the refuge. ANWR is nearly the size of [[South Carolina]]. [[File:Brooks Range Mountains ANWR.jpg|thumb|Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain, looking south toward the [[Brooks Range]] mountains.]]

The refuge supports a greater variety of plant and animal life than any other protected area in the [[Arctic Circle]]. A continuum of six different [[biome|ecozone]]s spans about {{convert|200|mi|sigfig=1}} north to south.

Along the northern coast of the refuge, the [[barrier island]]s, coastal [[lagoon]]s, [[salt marsh]]es, and [[river delta]]s of the [[Arctic coastal tundra]] provide habitat for migratory [[waterbird]]s including [[sea duck]]s, [[geese]], [[swan]]s, and [[shorebird]]s. Fish such as [[Dolly Varden trout|dolly varden]] and [[Cisco (fish)|Arctic cisco]] are found in nearshore waters. Coastal lands and sea ice are used by [[porcupine caribou|caribou]] seeking relief from biting insects during summer, and by [[polar bear]]s hunting [[pinniped|seals]] and giving birth in snow dens during winter.

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 [[shrub]]s, [[Cyperaceae|sedges]], and [[moss]]es. Caribou travel to the coastal plain during June and July to give birth and raise their young. Migratory birds and [[insects]] flourish here during the brief Arctic summer. Tens of thousands of [[Snow goose|snow geese]] stop here during September to feed before migrating south, and [[muskox]]en live here year-round.

South of the coastal plain, the mountains of the eastern Brooks Range rise to nearly {{convert|9000|ft}}. This northernmost extension of the [[Rocky Mountains]] marks the continental divide, with north-flowing rivers emptying into the [[Arctic Ocean]] and south-flowing rivers joining the great [[Yukon River]]. The rugged mountains of the Brooks Range are incised by deep river valleys creating a range of elevations and aspects that support a variety of low [[tundra]] vegetation, dense shrubs, rare groves of [[Populus|poplar]] trees on the north side and [[spruce]] on the south. During summer, [[peregrine falcon]]s, [[gyrfalcon]]s, and [[golden eagle]]s build nests on cliffs. [[Harlequin duck]]s and [[red-breasted merganser]]s are seen on swift-flowing rivers. [[Dall sheep]], muskoxen, and [[Alaskan tundra wolf|Alaskan Arctic tundra wolves]] are active all year, while [[grizzly bear]]s and [[ground squirrel|Arctic ground squirrels]] are frequently seen during summer but hibernate in winter.
[[File:Dall sheep ewe and lamb (5896652039).jpg|thumbnail|[[Dall sheep]] at ANWR]]
The southern portion of the Arctic Refuge is within the [[Interior Alaska-Yukon lowland taiga]] ([[taiga|boreal forest]]) ecoregion. Beginning as predominantly treeless tundra with scattered islands of black and white [[spruce|spruce trees]], the forest becomes progressively denser as the foothills yield to the expansive flats north of the Yukon River. Frequent forest fires ignited by lightning result in a complex mosaic of birch, aspen, and spruce forests of various ages. Wetlands and south-flowing rivers create openings in the forest canopy. Neotropical migratory birds breed here in spring and summer, attracted by plentiful food and the variety of habitats. Caribou travel here from farther north to spend the winter. Other year-round residents of the boreal forest include [[Alaska moose|moose]], [[Arctic fox|polar foxes]], [[North American beaver|beavers]], [[Canada lynx|Canadian lynxes]], [[American marten|martens]], [[red fox]]es, [[North American river otter|river otters]], [[North American porcupine|porcupines]], [[muskrat]]s, [[American black bear|black bears]], [[wolverine]]s, [[wolves]] and [[American mink|minks]].

Each year, thousands of waterfowl and other birds nest and reproduce in areas surrounding [[Prudhoe Bay, Alaska|Prudhoe Bay]] and [[Kuparuk River|Kuparuk]] fields and a healthy and increasing caribou herd migrates through these areas to calve and seek respite from annoying pests.