The Arctic
National Wildlife Range was
established in 1960. This designation was a promise to the American
people to preserve the area’s “unique wildlife, wilderness and
recreational values.” Twenty years later, Congress passed the “Alaska
Lands Act.” The Act renamed the area and more than doubled its size.
Today the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge includes nearly 20 million
acres (the size of South Carolina), three Wild rivers, and the largest
designated Wilderness (eight million acres) in the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
The Act also authorized a study of the oil and gas potential of the northern part of the Refuge (1002 Area-- see maps). This touched off an epic conservation battle that continues to this day.
The Act also authorized a study of the oil and gas potential of the northern part of the Refuge (1002 Area-- see maps). This touched off an epic conservation battle that continues to this day.
Source U.S. FWS
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