In polar Alaska, the weather in the winter is often well below 0 F. However, the chill along the Arctic Ocean moderates the climate around the coastal areas. In the summer the temperature is usually cool and can get as warm as 30 to 40 F. The ground in polar Alaska is permanently frozen, and during the summer the soil thaws only a few inches, making planting crops virtually impossible. The region is also extremely windy and the combination of the chill and the wind make the temperature feel much cooler than it really is.
The polar Alaska region is the home of quite a few inhabitants, namely the Inupiat Eskimos. Those in the Eskimo culture live a sustainable lifestyle by living off the land by hunting, fishing and gathering. The largest Inupiat community in the polar Alaska region is the village of Barrow. It has government offices such as a post office and other important services. Barrow is only one of the many villages spread out all over the polar Alaska region
Although the climate is cold, the native population of northern Alaska depends on the wildlife and vegetation in the region for survival. For example, various birds, fish and other wildlife provide food, clothing and other usable goods. Animals in the region include polar, black and brown bears, a variety of wolves, caribou, musk oxen, beavers, foxes, swans, goose, ducks and shorebirds. Salmon also swim through the cold, white waters of the region.
In the milder months of the year, spring and summer, most of the travel through the polar regions of Alaska is done by air. A variety of commercial airlines service larger villages like Barrow, Kotzebue and Purdhoe Bay in northern Alaska. Air taxis are also available for trips into isolated areas. Polar Alaska has only one state highway, the Dalton Highway, which runs south from the oil fields to join the Elliott Highway. This highway is largely used by oil-field supply trucks or by tourists. The highways connect for a few small roads that get local traffic through towns. Additionally, all-terrain vehicles, dogsleds and snowmachines are frequently used in polar Alaska.