92ZE-WZ ZB61 OdO V- Kanuti Special Places

National The Kanuti River canyon (southern Pre-Athabaskan and Athabaskan area) is especially scenic. Rocky cliffs sites and turn-of-the-century mining Wildlife (100-400 feet high) tower above its sites are located in various areas on banks providing special habitat to the refuge. Four mining camps were Refuge peregine falcons and other raptors. productive from 1897 to 1906. 30IAU3S 3dliailM ONV HSId The Kanuti River supports an unusual The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line community of plantlife — wet taiga on that marks the beginning of the land HOIU31NI dO !N3IAIlUVd3a the northern slopes and desert plants of midnight sun. The Arctic Circle S31V1S a31INfl on the southern side. crosses near the center of the refuge. Hulgothen Bluffs — A rich fossil bed afUPIjM snojoejd mo dAjasuoo d/ai-i Kanuti Refuge (1.6 million acres) lies deep in exposed by the erosive action of Fish Alaska's interior in a vast wetland basin formed Creek. by the Kanuti and Koyukuk rivers. This refuge V0IU3WV Nl 3QIUd 3HV1 provides safety for hundreds of thousands of waterfowl when drought conditions occur in the lower-48 and Canada. A wild land little changed by humans — its major purpose is to provide habitat for a wide diversity of wildlife and breeding migratory birds. 6SS0-99fr (Z06) :ouoqdO|Oi L0Z66 B>|seiv 'sx-ueqjjey 02X08 '-OAvmsi- fCU 6u!p|ma iBjepoj 8-g uiooy Wild Heritage 36nj3u aillPUM leuojjeN !inue>| The landscape features a striking mosaic of placid streams, wetlands and muskeg with hun­ dreds of lakes of every size and shape. The central part of the refuge is dominated by the fT50-f7TS (Z06) auoqdaioi Kanuti wetlands (Kanuti Flats). Mosses, sedges 669 L-81966 B>|se|v 'o6ejoqouv/ and grass intermix with black spruce and peoa Ajjeqdsey £££ shrubs in the poorly drained areas. Birch and aweo pue qsiy jo tuawpedeQ e>jseiv poplar grow in gentle folds across broad :6uisuao!i JO suoi}e|n6ej uo uoiteujjojui meadows. Boreal forests (taiga) and stands of white spruce dot the uplands. The land is generally low lying with elevation ranging from five hundred feet to three thousand feet. Winter Fall Spring- Summer The Koyukuk (third longest river in Alaska) com­ prises the heart of the refuge. This scenic river winds its way through the refuge eventually meeting the massive Yukon. The Koyukuk is historically significant and it has several Visiting the Refuge names. The first recorded name was "Kukukak" a Koyukan Indian word. Others Sportfishing, hunting and subsistence use is allowed on the refuge in accordance with state regulations. The refuge is include Yunaka, Kuiuk, Kuyaak and Coyukuk. within Game Management Unit 24. Subsistence and recreational uses are allowed as long as they are compatible with Humans have used these lands for at least wildlife and their habitat. Kanuti twelve thousand years and perhaps longer. National Wildlife Refuge Temperatures are challenging and display Do not disturb cabins or food caches unless con­ an incredible range — 100 above in the summer to fronted with an emergency. Someone may be 70 below in the winter. The rivers freeze in early depending on these supplies. October. River breakup usually occurs in early to mid- May. Lake ice disappears in early June. Precautions should be taken to avoid unwanted Diversity of Wildlife encounters with bears. Be especially cautious No roads lead to the refuge, however, daily flights are when encountering animals with offspring. Make The refuge provides space and isolation for a available from Fairbanks to Evansville/Bettles and noise when hiking or walking. Keep a clean camp­ rich pageant of wildlife. This array includes Allakaket/Alatna. Air charters are available in Bettles site and store food outside of tents and out-of- large mammals (moose, wolves, bear and to lakes and gravel bars — then you depend on boat bear reach. or foot travel. The nature of the wet terrain does not caribou); small mammals (otter, wolverine, lend itself to hiking. Carry a topographic map (Bettles quadrangle) and marten, fox, beaver and voles); waterbirds a compass for safety. Information on these maps (swan, geese, ducks, loons, grebes, sandhill Be prepared for changeable weather and mosquitoes. is available from U.S. Geological Survey — cranes and shorebirds); and other resident and Bring warm clothing, rain gear and repellent. In this telephone: 907-271-4307 (Anchorage). migratory birds (eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, water-dominated area, a ceaseless battle is waged between people and insects. Dead or downed trees may be for firewood. Be grouse and ptarmigan). Over a hundred species alert for grass and forest fires especially in dry of birds use the refuge. Limited food or camping equipment is available in years. nearby villages. Guiding services are available in Thousands of white-fronted and Canadian Bettles/Evansville, Anchorage and Fairbanks. Pack out what you pack in — do not bury garbage or debris. geese stage and feed on several large lakes as No villages exist within the boundaries of the refuge. they prepare for their journey south. These However, four villages comprising two communities Leave a travel plan describing your trip with a geese and other migratory birds breed, nest are located outside the refuge border: Allakaket, friend; notify them when you return. Alatna and Bettles/Evansville. Many residents of and raise their young in the productive Boil or chemically purify water before drinking. wetlands. Most birds common to Alaska's these communities are Athabascan or Eskimo origin. Giardiasis, a waterborne intestinal disease, is interior (148 species) are usually present on They have used the land for centuries. They depend common in Alaska. Kanuti. So far, 105 species (38 passerines) on the land today as they have in the past — fishing, hunting, gathering firewood, cutting house logs and have been observed on the refuge. picking berries.

Sixteen species of fish inhabit the lakes and Thousands of acres (about one-fourth of the rivers — Chinook, coho and chum salmon, refuge) is private property. These lands include sheefish, whitefish, grayling, northern pike, cemeteries and other irreplaceable historical sites. Do not use these private lands without Dolly Varden and burbot. Northern pike are permission. If you are uncertain about land most common in the larger lakes and rivers ownership, contact the refuge manager. while grayling are more abundant in smaller streams.