Harrison Bay (Beaufort Sea) facts for kids
Harrison Bay is a special kind of bay, like where a river meets the sea, located north of Alaska. It opens up into the Beaufort Sea. It is right next to the Colville Delta. The strong flow of the Colville River brings lots of fresh water and food into the bay. This makes the water shallow and full of nutrients, which is super important for many animals.
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Where is Harrison Bay Located?
Harrison Bay is surrounded by interesting places. On its western side, you'll find Cape Halkett, which is close to Teshekpuk Lake. To the east, there's Oliktok Point. From Oliktok Point, a long line of small islands stretches eastward, even going through Prudhoe Bay.
Animals of Harrison Bay
The waters of Harrison Bay are a perfect home for many different birds. You can see long-tailed ducks, king eiders, red-throated loons, Arctic terns, surf scoters, brant geese, and glaucous gulls here.
Migrating Birds and Fish
In the summer and fall, many birds stop at Harrison Bay to rest and eat. These include red-throated and yellow-billed loons, and king and spectacled eiders. Small fish, called forage fish, are very important here. They link tiny creatures to bigger animals like birds and marine mammals in the Arctic food chain. Harrison Bay is a key place for these forage fish, such as Arctic cod and capelin.
Polar Bears in the Bay
Besides the many birds, polar bears also live here. In winter, they hunt seals on the ice, especially where there are open spots in the ice. Many pregnant polar bears also build their winter dens in this area to have their cubs.
Energy and the Environment
In 2015, a company called ConocoPhillips started looking for oil in the Colville Delta. People living in the nearby village of Nuiqsut are worried about this. They are concerned that new oil drilling might make it harder to hunt and fish for food in the Colville Delta and Harrison Bay. Hunting and fishing are very important for their way of life.
