Potential Natural Vegetation. Most areas are barren of vegetation. Where vegetation occurs, alpine tundra communities of prostrate shrubs, forbs, grasses, and lichens predominate. Trumpeter swans nest in the river valleys, as do widgeons, lesser scaups, and greater scaups. Some of the best habitat for Dall sheep in Alaska occurs in this Section.
Gray wolves are also abundant.
Grayling occur in clear-water streams. Killing frost can occur any time of the year. Surface Water Characteristics. Ice fields and glaciers are abundant throughout the area. Permafrost is discontinuous.