Northern Alaska is Arctic Alaska, a remote land of extremes, where traditional people follow ancient calendars and where national politics plays a prominent role.
This area above the Arctic Circle -- without large summer runs of salmon and facing months of twilight and bitter cold every winter -- is alive in the summer with millions of migratory waterfowl.
Wildlife
The Native population has depended since time immemorial on the wildlife and vegetation of the Northern region.
Caribou, whales and birds enabled -- and still do, in many cases -- the subsistence lifestyle to provide food and clothing.
Other animals in the region include polar, black and brown bears; wolves; musk oxen; small mammals such as beavers and foxes; and huge flocks of migratory swans, geese, ducks and shorebirds from not only North America but also from the other continents.
Oil
The oil fields around Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska provide about 20 percent of the United States' consumption and, through royalties, a great share of Alaska's state budget. The associated construction, pipeline and transportation industries are a bulwark of the state and regional economy.
The oil companies' desire to explore for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to the east of the established oil fields, has focused attention on the refuge's caribou herd and on the Gwich'in people, who depend on the caribou, as well as on the issues of what a refuge should protect and on the nation's demand for oil. But even as the drilling issue makes its way through the political corridors, tourism in the refuge has increased.
On the western side of Arctic Alaska, a mine north of Kotzebue is the nation's largest provider of zinc. The central Brooks Range has some gold mines, a remnant of a rush in the early 20th century.
Northern parks and refuges
Northern Alaska features Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley national parks, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, a national preserve and several national wild rivers. In addition to holding all of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the North contains part of another national preserve and two refuges relied on by migratory birds.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge attracts hundreds of visitors a year for wildlife viewing and for rafting trips down its scenic rivers. The refuge is often reached by small plane from Fairbanks.
Northwestern Alaska is thought to be where the first people crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America. Archaeological digs have found material dating 10,000 and more years old.
Population and villages
The population of the North Slope and Northwest Alaska boroughs, which cover almost all of Arctic Alaska, is 10,500.
Barrow, population 4,434, and Kotzebue, 3,107, are the region's largest cities in a region where the population is mostly Inupiat Eskimo. Barrow is the northernmost community in North America.
Attractions
The Inupiat Heritage Center in Barrow is affiliated with the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New Bedford, Mass., recognizing the contributions of Alaska Natives to the history of whaling. Also in Barrow, travelers may visit the Wiley Post-Will Rogers memorial near the site where the pilot and humorist died in a plane crash in 1935.
In Kotzebue, visitors go to the Innaigvik Education and Information Center to learn more about Kotzebue and nearby wild lands. Locally led tours take the culturally curious out of town.
Outdoors
Fishing for sheefish, pike and other species is good in some lakes and rivers. The federal land is open country for hikers and wildlife watchers.
Hunters seek caribou, bears and birds, and some crews from some coastal villages harvest bowhead whales.
Because of the lack of roads, travel out of town is by boat or small plane.
Transportation
In the summer, most travel is done by air. Commercial airlines link Anchorage and Fairbanks with Barrow, Kotzebue and Prudhoe Bay (Deadhorse) and most villages. Air taxis can be hired for trips into refuges, parks and other isolated areas.
The Northern region has only one state highway, the Dalton, which runs south from the oil fields to join the Elliott Highway north of Fairbanks. It is used mostly by oil-field supply trucks and tourists. Roads often exist around towns and villages for local traffic.
All-terrain vehicles and snowmachines are frequently used in rural Alaska. Dogsleds are used occasionally.
Lodging
Lodging is available in several locations, including Barrow, Kotzebue, Deadhorse, Coldfoot and Kaktovik.
Geography, geology and climate
Summer in Northern Alaska is a time of sunshine. The longest day is the one between sunrise on May 10 and sunset on August 2. In the winter, the sun is down from Nov. 18 to January 24.
The Barrow temperature averages 40 degrees F in the summer. During the year, it swings between -56 and 78 F. The daily minimum temperature is below freezing 324 days of the year.
The range also defines climatic patterns.
The northern strip is noticeably colder and drier than the part south of the range. Barrow's average temperature range in January is minus 8 to minus 20, and 33 to 45 in July. Fort Yukon, just north of the Arctic Circle, is slightly colder in winter but it has an average July range of 51 to 72. Fort Yukon also sports the state record for high temperature, 100 degrees.
