The panhandle of Alaska is famous for the massive timbers of the Tongass National Forest. The Tlingit made this region home. The Aleutian Island chain is home to the Aleuts and was the source of furs that lured the Russians to these shores in 1741. The North Slope was brought to the world's attention by the oil strikes in 1968, but had been known to the Innuit for thousands of years. While the delta area looks small on the map, it equals the size of the state of Pennsylvania or Oregon.
Permafrost conditions are the norm throughout the region.
Because Bethel is close to the ocean and relatively far south, the extremes of summer and winter are moderated. There are no existing road systems between the Bethel and the 56 villages in the region. A village can range in population from 60 to 1,000 residents. Lowest - sea level. Bethel is the hub of the delta for commerce, health and medicine, governance, and education.