Take a Wilderness Break in Alaska for a Unique and Tranquil Vacation


by Adam Singleton - Date: 2007-06-08 - Word Count: 418 Share This!

A wilderness break could be the most relaxing vacation you'll ever take, and the vast number of wildlife refuges and national parks spread across the United States means that the majority of American residents are unlikely to run out of inspiration for a new wilderness holiday idea. But if you're keen to experience a unique break in the wild, why not visit Alaska? The sheer variety of arctic wildlife and national forests in Alaska means that you'll be in for a wilderness vacation that will never get boring.

Fly out to Anchorage and take a trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - a wildlife park in north-eastern Alaska that stretches over nineteen million acres. Out of this, eight million acres were officially designated as a US Wilderness Area in 1960, before the expansion of the refuge in 1980. As a wilderness zone, the area is fascinating as it incorporates six different eco-zones and spans some 200 miles.

With a variety of barrier islands and coastal lagoons to be found on the northern boundary of the refuge, visitors will find rare arctic fish, like the dolly varden and arctic cisco. You'll also find a range of polar bears and hunting seals during the winter, while the caribou often emerge during the summer in order to seek refuge from insects.

Move further south and you'll find the arctic coastal plain stretching towards the foothills of the Brooks Range - a mountain range that spans a horizontal region from the wildlife refuge towards the east into Canada's Yukon Territory. The tundra vegetation characteristic of this region means that the region is predominantly habituated by migratory birds and insects. However, September sees the influx of tens of thousands of snow geese before their ultimate southerly migration, while musk oxen live here year-round.

Vacationers in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge who travel further south will encounter a range of interesting wildlife: popular birds that habituate Alaska's arctic region during the summer include peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, golden eagles, harlequin ducks and red-breasted mergansers. However, dall sheep, wolves, grizzly bears and arctic ground squirrels often are all resident in the region throughout the year.

If you're keen to indulge in the tranquillity afforded by the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, you'll find a number of hotels in Anchorage in which you can stay. From here, you'll be able to find many Alaska tour operators that offer wilderness treks for tourists - so you can be sure that your Alaskan adventure has all the benefits of a professional vacation in the wild!


Related Tags: wildlife, alaska, wilderness, arctic, tundra, hotels in anchorage, refuge

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer. His portfolio, called Capquest Photography is available to view online.

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