CHAPTER ONE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE Wind temperature water earthquakes and time created the Gates of the Arctic's stunning landscape Rivers mountains forests and glaciers adorn this unspoiled land Black spruce trees grow in flat frozen ground in the Arctic Circle The vast lands of the Gates of the Arctic include glaciers mountains valleys rivers and streams
Gates of the Arctic Nat l Park and Preserve Arctic Circle ALASKA Arctic Reach The Arctic includes everything north of the Arctic Circle which is approximately 66 degrees 34 minutes north latitude The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is in Alaska within the Arctic Circle The 8.5 million acre 3.44 million hectare park is bigger than the state of Maryland
The Gates of the Arctic habitat has remained virtually the same since the first nomadic hunters arrived 13 thousand years ago There are no roads businesses trails or campgrounds Visitors bring everything they need to survive when they backpack dog sled or fly in on a bush plane Thousands of years ago the first hunters found a stunning landscape rich with wildlife Strange Days Because of the tilt of the Earth it is dark 24 hours a day in the winter and light 24 hours a day in the summer The sun still shines at midnight in the middle of the summer in the Arctic
Research in the Gates of the Arctic can be exciting and dangerous thanks to freezing temperatures rugged environments rapidly changing weather conditions and predators such as wolves and grizzly bears black bear Scientists and park guests must always be aware of bears and how to set up a bear safe campsite You always have to be prepared for the weather to change so we have a saying There is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothes Carol Ann Woody Regional Fish Biologist National Park Service Biologists often backpack through the backcountry to do their research
