The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most pristine and undisturbed places on Earth. It is located in the northeastern corner of Alaska, and covers 19 million acres. The Brooks Range is to the south, and the Arctic Ocean is to the north. It is dominated by middle arctic tundra, but the 1.5 million acre coastal plain is the area used most by wildlife.
Frost, snowfall, and freezing conditions shape the tundra landscape. It creates a layer of permanently frozen soil, called permafrost. When the snow melts, the soil becomes waterlogged, since the water cannot drain through the permafrost. During the summer, the temperature ranges from 36-54°F, and averages -30°F in the winter. The area has little precipitation, with only 6-10 inches per year, but has strong winds, which can blow up to 100 mph. Plants and animals can benefit from the snow because of its insulating qualities, which can provide shelter from strong winds.
Biotic diversity in the Arctic tundra is low, with large fluctuations in the population sizes, often linked to food supply and predator populations. However, huge herds of caribou, polar bears, and musk ox roam the coastal plains. Important producers include moss, reindeer lichen, cottongrass, sedges, and willows. These plants are low and tough, with small leaves and a thick epidermis to slow transpiration. Their leaves are also dark green to red, so that they can absorb more solar radiation. Lichen is a very important food to caribou, especially in the winter, which caribou use their front antler tine and hooves to scrap snow off of. Animals found in the tundra also include arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, lemmings, snow geese, snowy owls, and weasels. These animals have adaptations such as two layers of fur, small ears, short legs, or short tails to keep them warm and reduce heat loss.
A major issue in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is whether oil drilling should be developed in the coastal plains. Part of the refuge, called Area 1002, has been examined by petroleum scientists who predict that oil is there. Those for the drilling debate that drilling will not impact wildlife in the refuge, and will preserve the land there, based on the strict regulations for preserving the land and oil. However, those who oppose the drilling are still convinced that drilling for oil will disrupt the way of life for future generations. Government officials have disagreed about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the debate still continues as Congress prepares to act on this issue.
