Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge covers about 19,049,236 acres (79,318 km²) in northeastern Alaska, in the North Slope region. It was originally protected in 1960 by order of President Eisenhower's Secretary of the Interior, Fred A. Seaton. As part of Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the refuge was expanded by the United States Congress in 1980, through the lobbying efforts of Olaus and Mardy Murie, with the Wilderness Society.

Related Topics:
Acre - 79,318 km² - Alaska - North Slope - President Eisenhower's - Secretary of the Interior - Fred A. Seaton - Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act - United States Congress - Olaus - Mardy Murie - Wilderness Society

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8,000,000 acres (32,375 km²) of the Refuge are designated as "Wilderness". The 1980 expansion of the Refuge designated 1,500,000 acres (6,070 km²) of the coastal plain as the 1002 area and mandated studies of the petroleum potential and biological resources of this area. Congressional authorization is required before oil drilling may proceed in this area. The remaining 10,100,000 acres (40,873 km²) of the Refuge are designated as "Minimal Management", a category intended to maintain existing natural conditions and resource values. These areas are suitable for Wilderness designation, although there are presently no proposals to designate them as Wilderness.

Related Topics:
Wilderness - 1002 area - Petroleum - Biological - Oil drilling - Minimal Management

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There are presently no roads within or leading into the Refuge. Generally, visitors gain access to the land by airplanes, but it is also possible to reach the Refuge by boat or by walking (the Dalton Highway passes near the western edge of the Refuge).

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