CHAPTER IV 
THE FAUNA OF ALASKA 
Since Alaska came into the possession of the United States 
its progress has been a rapid one. The sudden development 
of the resources of this vast country attracted public atten¬ 
tion and led to urgent demands for further exploration of its 
natural wealth. This work has been actively prosecuted 
within the last few years, so that we now possess some know¬ 
ledge of the geography, geology and mineral resources of the 
country. Situated in the north-westerly extremity of North' 
America, its area equals in size about one fifth of the United 
States (see Fig. 1). It is nearly three times as large as the 
German Empire. 
A broad mountain belt spreads along the Pacific coast of 
Alaska, its western prolongation being still recognisable in the 
chain of the Aleutian Islands. The north-eastern extension of 
the Rocky Mountains curves rapidly westward on reaching the 
Arctic Ocean and there forms a range almost parallel with the 
north coast of Alaska. Between these two mountain systems 
lies partly a plateau and partly a great plain drained by the 
Yukon River, the latter sending its waters into the Bering 
Sea. About one quarter of Alaska lies within the Arctic 
Circle. Hence, from the standpoint of geographic position, 
it must be regarded as an Arctic province. The southern 
sea-hoard, on the other hand, which is exposed to the warm 
winds and waters of the Pacific Ocean, gives a comparatively 
mild climate to the entire southern portion of the territory. 
Thus Dr. Brooks * draws attention to the fact, which few of 
us probably realize, that the range of climate in Alaska is 
greater than that between Maine and Florida. 
The capital of the country, Sitka, has a slightly lower mean 
* Brooks, A. II., “ Geography and Geology of Alaska,” p. 11. 
