Alaska's Geographical Regions
Arctic Slope Alaska
The Arctic is a very sparsely settled region. It has a sub-arctic climate with a very short open season and long cold winters. The area is dominantly of low relief, consisting of rolling uplands near the mountains, which give way northward to low, almost featureless plains, only slightly above sea level near the coast. Except for the coastal fringe it is practically uninhabited and access is exceedingly difficult except by plane. Even the coastal area, where the principal villages are located, are cut off from other means of communications for much of the year because the ocean is open for navigation only a month or so each summer. Except for the immediate vivinity of the villages there are no roads. Plane service from Nome is available year round.
Arctic Alaska is inhabited by Eskimos who, to a certain extent, have continued their primitive cultures. The discovery of oil has significantly altered the area as has the introduction of the snowmobile.
