Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Refuge during summer
Map
Location in northern Alaska
LocationNorth Slope Borough and Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States
Nearest cityUtqiaġvik, Alaska pop. 3,982
Kaktovik, Alaska pop. 258
Coordinates68°45′N 143°30′W / 68.750°N 143.500°W / 68.750; -143.500
Area19,286,722 acres (78,050.59 km2)
Established1960
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteArctic National NWR

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR, pronounced as “ANN-warr”) or Arctic Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska, United States, on traditional Iñupiaq and Gwich'in lands. The refuge is 19,286,722 acres (78,050.59 km2) of the Alaska North Slope region, with a northern coastline and vast inland forest, taiga, and tundra regions.[1] ANWR is the largest national wildlife refuge in the country, slightly larger than the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is administered from offices in Fairbanks. ANWR is home to a diverse range of endemic mammal species; notably, it is one of the few North American locations with all three endemic American bears—the polar bear, grizzly bear, and American black bear, each of which resides predominantly in its own ecological niche. Besides the bears, other mammal species include the moose, caribou, wolves, red and Arctic fox, Canada lynx, wolverine, pine marten, American beaver, and North American river otter. Further inland, mountain goats may be seen near the slope. Hundreds of species of migratory birds visit the refuge yearly, and it is a vital, protected breeding location for them. Snow geese, eiders and snowy owls may be observed as well.

Just across the border in Yukon, Canada, are two Canadian National Parks, Ivvavik and Vuntut.

  1. ^ "USFWS Annual Lands Report, 30 September 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 22 May 2023.