Detailed Information:
While priorities for the national environmental organizations shift, protection of the Arctic Refuge will be the number one priority for AWL until the area is permanently protected. In the far northeastern corner of Alaska lies one of America`s greatest national treasures -- the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Its 19 million acres of pristine wilderness are home to one of the world`s most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles: a gathering of caribou, polar bears, grizzly bears, musk oxen, Dall sheep, wolves, Arctic foxes, and migratory birds that rivals Africa`s Serengeti.The Arctic Refuge was established in 1960 by President Eisenhower, and later expanded in 1980 when President Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Act (ANILCA). In both cases, a diverse coalition of wilderness advocates overcame fierce opposition from those who sought to exploit the area`s potential resources.
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