Climate

As one would expect from being so far north, the Arctic is the coldest region of Alaska.  In winter, it is as cold as the Interior.  In summer, it is the coldest region in Alaska.  The frigid Arctic Ocean, which is frozen for much of the year, does not moderate the climate as the warmer Pacific Ocean does along the coast of the Southeast and Southcentral region.

The Arctic Region is also Alaska's driest region—in fact, it is desert. Receiving under 5" of precipitation a year, it is one of the driest places in the United States (an interesting contrast with Ketchikan, the wettest city in the U.S.).

Something to think about- Why is the Arctic Region a desert?

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