Each island that makes up this region has its own character ranging form flat to rugged. The north magnetic pole is located in this region. Much of this region has little or no vegetation. Where continuous occurs, it usually consists of hummocks of mosses, lichens, grasses and sedges. The only woody species, the dwarf willow, grows as a dense twisted mat crawling along the ground.
Birds abound here in summer, especially on the southern islands.
No national parks exist yet in this region.