Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is a vast protected area in Alaska, established in 1980. It encompasses the Aleutian Islands and other islands, covering approximately 4,250 square miles. This refuge is crucial for the survival of tens of millions of seabirds, including auklets, puffins, and murres. It also provides a habitat for marine mammals such as sea otters, sea lions, and seals. The refuge plays a role in preserving the traditional way of life for the Indigenous Unangan (Aleut) people, who rely on fishing and hunting. The islands themselves are part of the volcanic "Ring of Fire" and are characterized by rugged terrain, high winds, and heavy precipitation, with a climate that supports abundant grasses and flowering plants but lacks trees.1