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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Alaska Kamchatka rhododendron and granite tors at Serpentine Hot Springs Coast at the preserve’s northeast edge, south of Cape Espenberg Left: Blueberry (Inupiaq: Suġaq) An Inupiaq hunter navigates ice in the Chukchi Sea. As global temperatures rose and ice sheets melted, Beringia was slowly submerged. The mammoth steppe slowly transitioned to tundra. Some species—the woolly mammoth and steppe bison—went extinct. Others, like the caribou and muskox, adapted to a warming world. By about 10,000 years ago, Beringia no longer connected the two continents. through generations. These lands are the homeland of Inupiaq communities and support an ongoing subsistence way of life. Imuruk Lake is lined with lava rocks. Salmonberry (Inupiaq: Akpik) PEXELS / JK MSCW © GILLES MINGASSON Approaching Serpentine Hot Springs by snowmachine Kamanaaniqshraq Vast, Vital, Vibrant Beringia was not just a land bridge between two continents. It was a permanent part of the world for plants, animals, and people. It was not just a stop during migrations; it was a place to call home. Below: Imagine a summer day at Serpentine Hot Springs 12,000–13,000 years ago. It might have looked like this illustration, with herds of large grazing animals like horses, bison, and mammoths. NPS / BETH ZAIKEN ALL IMAGES­­—NPS UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED At the peak of the last ice age, about 21,000 years ago, much of Earth’s water was locked in massive ice sheets. Sea levels dropped more than 300 feet, revealing a landmass that connected Asia and North America. Beringia, as it became known, had an extremely dry, windy climate. It kept snow from accumulating in the piles needed to form ice sheets. The ice-free landmass became home to a great diversity of life. The Inupiat have lived in Beringia for thousands of years. Their culture is deeply connected to the land, animals, and plants. Communities like Wales, Shishmaref, and Deering continue to thrive by passing traditional knowledge down Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, in Beringia’s heart, covers 2.7 million acres of wildlands. People can hunt, fish, and gather plants and berries, as they have for generations. Its ecosystems are vital for migratory birds and Arctic animals. It is a place of extraordinary beauty, history, and culture. Tundra swan Snow goose Common raven Steppe bison Bering Land Bridge Caribou Arctic ground squirrel Muskox Gray wolf Giant short-faced bear Arctic horse Woolly mammoth skull Ptarmigan Arctic poppy Kamchatka rhododendron Mountain avens Pacific golden plover Northern wheatear Maar Lakes Formed by massive explosions when magma and permafrost met underground, the preserve’s four maar lakes are the largest in the world. Devil Mountain Maar Lake, created about 17,500 years ago, is the largest and youngest lake. Walrus (Inupiaq: aiviq) calf and cow US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Coastal Lagoons Lagoons are vital nurseries for birds, fish, marine mammals, and other species. Lagoons are also hubs where people fish, hunt, and berry-pick. Serpentine Hot Springs The hot springs (Iyat) and the surrounding valley are a gathering place for travelers as well as local people. They have sought respite and healing here for millennia. Exploring Bering Land Bridge Imuruk Lava Fields The lava fields, formed over millions of years, cover more than 100,000 acres. They were shaped by flows from over 75 now-dormant vents. The last eruption was 1,500 years ago. Plan Your Visit Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in northwest Alaska is a vast landscape—among the most remote areas in the National Park System. No roads connect this region with others. Visiting the Heritage Center Jets from Anchorage serve Nome and Kotzebue daily. The Heritage Center, open seasonally, is located in the Sitnasuak Building at 214 Front Street, Nome. Check the preserve website for hours. Stop in for a visit and check out the exhibits, park film, and bookstore. From Nome or Kotzebue, travel to the preserve is by snowmachine, fixed-wing aircraft, boat, and, occasionally, foot. A list of approved air taxis is available on the website. Inside the Preserve Snowmachines are allowed with adequate snow cover. • Hiking on the tundra’s uneven ground can be challenging. • Be prepared for changing weather, high winds, rain, snow, cold temperatures, and animal encounters. • Carry enough food to cover a delay. • Tell someone about your plans. • You may see people engaged in subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering. Do not interfere with camps, traps, nets, or other equipment. • Many areas in the preserve are privately owned. Do not enter private land without the landowner’s permission. • Federal laws protect all natural and cultural features. • For hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations; safety information; and firearms and other regulations, check the website. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is one of over 430 parks in the National Park System. To learn more, visit www.nps.gov. Emergencies call 911 Follow us on social media. More Information Bering Land Bridge National Preserve PO Box 220 Nome, AK 99762 907-759-8020 www.nps.gov/bela Use the official NPS App to guide your visit. Download the park to use offline. npf_black.pdf Left: Serpentine Hot Springs bunkhouse and bathhouse Above: Muskox (Inupiaq: umiŋmak) © TOM BLANDFORD ALL IMAGES­­—NPS UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED Bluethroat Join the park community. www.nationalparks.org IGPO:2025—431-026/84241 New in 2025 1 8/26/22 12:33 PM