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The Western Arctic in the far north of Alaska encompasses 35 million acres of breathtaking wilderness, much of it officially known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. A vibrant and sensitive ecosystem, the Western Arctic provides vital habitat for an array of wildlife, including polar bears, grizzly bears, caribou, muskoxen, moose, wolves, and massive flocks of migratory birds. After handing over millions of acres of the Northwest Planning Area to oil and gas leasing in 2004, the Bush administration now plans to open the few previously protected parts of the northeast, including the prized Teshekpuk Lake area, which encompasses one of the most important and sensitive wetland complexes in the circumpolar Arctic. This photo, taken in the Western Arctic, depicts the midnight sun over the partly frozen Arctic Ocean.