Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge

Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge
River in the Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge
Coordinates: 64 ° 30 ′ 0 ″  N , 154 ° 19 ′ 48 ″  W.
Location:	Alaska , United States
Next city:	Ruby
Surface:	6313 km²
Founding:	2nd December 1980

The Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge is a 6313 km² large protected area in the National Wildlife Refuge System of the USA . It is located in the interior of Alaska south of the Yukon River and consists of the floodplain of the Nowitna River . Around 360 km of the total 455 km of the river lie within the boundaries of the protected area.

The refuge was established in 1980 under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service . It is listed in Category IV ( Biotope and Species Protection Area ) by the World Conservation Union .

Meandering Nowitna River

The weather in the region of the refuges is characterized by precipitation, light wind, long, hard winters and short but relatively warm summers.

The slowly meandering lower reaches of the Nowitna River with the wetlands near the bank and the surrounding lakes form one of the many water bird breeding areas in Alaska. Trumpeter swans , white-fronted geese , giant table ducks , cranes and many other migratory birds breed in the reserve. About 120 species of birds were sighted during the summer months.

The wooded lowlands are overgrown with white spruce and offer the marten shelter. Even elk , wolves , lynx , wolverines , black and brown bears have a habitat.

The Koyukon have lived in the region of today's protected area for millennia.

Web links

Commons : Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• US Fish & Wildlife Service: Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge (official site; English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ World Database on Protected Areas - Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge (English)