Gwazhal Hills

The western foothills of the Brooks Range rise above the valleys of the Noatak and Kobuk rivers. Their slopes and ridges form part of a mountain system extending across northern Alaska, with tundra on the high ground and forests farther south. The Noatak winds through a basin enclosed by mountains, cutting a long canyon on its way west. For generations Iñupiat hunters travelled through this country, following animals across the valleys and passes. Archaeological sites along the river testify to a long human presence in the region.