The Compass: Alaska

Emmense beyond imagination, Alaska covers more territory than Texas, California, and Montana combined. Wide swaths of the 49th state—aptly nicknamed the “Last Frontier”—are untamed and extraordinarily scenic.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

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Your navigation into the weekend Alaska

The Compass is a source of inspiration and a reminder of the beautiful global community we share. Right now, it might be hard to see the beauty amongst the unsettling-heartbreaking issues that we are facing. We continue to publish The Compass, to give release, if only for a moment, to remind ourselves that there is beauty in this world. Even if it’s hard to see right now. Immense beyond imagination, Alaska covers more territory than Texas, California, and Montana combined. Wide swaths of the 49th state—aptly nicknamed the “Last Frontier”—are untamed and extraordinarily scenic. This week we look at the impacts of petroleum development on the nesting grounds for millions of birds, see new photos that reveal how humpbacks herd salmon with their fins, and discover how leaving ancient Alaskan forests standing may be the new way to profit from them. Let’s explore Alaska.

ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

PHOTOGRAPH BY KILIII YÜYAN, EARTH JUSTICE Alaska’s last vast wild place is open for drilling. Will the birds survive? Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, where millions of birds come to nest and raise their young, is now under threat from petroleum development. READ MORE SHARE RELATED: EXXON VALDEZ CHANGED THE OIL INDUSTRY FOREVER—BUT NEW THREATS EMERGE +

PHOTOGRAPH BY PAUL NICKLEN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION Humpback whales herd salmon with their fins, new photos reveal The discovery, filmed in southeastern Alaska, confirms a behavior long hypothesized but never scientifically confirmed. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY ACACIA JOHNSON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Alaska is the best place to see wild bears. A new mine could change that. The proposed Pebble Mine threatens the wildlife of the Alaska Peninsula, home to the densest brown bear populations on Earth. READ MORE

PHOTOGRAPH BY JUAN HERRERO Climate change batters this Arctic island—can the community cope? From vanishing ice to shifting walruses, Native Alaskans living on Little Diomede have watched their home transform with disturbing speed. READ MORE SHARE

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PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK THIESSEN When wildfires break out, this elite team of ‘smokejumpers’ parachute in A dangerous race to fight remote fires begins each summer when Alaska's combustible backcountry is ablaze. READ MORE SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY KATIE ORLINSKY At a grueling subarctic race, a photographer finds calm While covering sled dog teams running in the Yukon Quest, Katie Orlinsky experiences warmth in the kindness of strangers. READ MORE SHARE

| NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL | GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED Gordon Ramsay Braves the Icy Alaska Panhandle READ THE STORY

SCIENCE

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSHUA COGAN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC A new way to profit from ancient Alaskan forests—leave them standing In the Tongass National Forest, threatened by expanded logging, a Native-owned corporation is being paid to leave some old-growth trees standing. READ MORE SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY ACACIA JOHNSON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC The risky plan to haul minerals from a mine in the Alaska wilderness A proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska would require a massive transportation corridor that puts a pristine wilderness at risk. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY KATIE ORLINSKY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Warming temperatures are causing the ground beneath this Alaska village to melt “Many folks are not happy to be leaving the place they’ve known their whole lives.” After 20 years of melting permafrost, residents of Newtok now must move. READ MORE

PHOTO GALLERY 20 captivating photos of wild Alaskan adventures SEE THE SLIDESHOW

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT? Be sure to check your inbox next week to find out.

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