Alaska's regions
Northern Alaska
Arctic region comes alive in summer as birds return
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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.
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