Arctic Alaska settlement in Arctic Alaska was driven first by discoveries of gold and later on by the extraction of petroleum. The ecosystem consists largely of tundra covering mountain ranges and coastal plains which are home to bears, wolves, sheep, oxen, reindeer, and numerous species of birds, the north coast has been defined as the Arctic coastal tundra ecoregion. Arctic Alaska is also the location of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The Arctic experiences midnight sun in the summer and polar night in the winter. Arctic Alaska Arctic Alaska
Winter Mountain Smyth at his home in Donegal, Ireland, and shortly afterwards formed Winter Mountain. They began touring after winning a 'battle of the bands' competition in Derry, Northern Ireland. Their prize was two days at a local recording studio. They used the session to record what would become their debut EP, which featured five original songs. After a year of performing in pubs and folk clubs across the UK and Ireland, Winter Mountain were given the opportunity to accompany Northern Irish folk singer Cara Dillon at a theatre in Donegal. They presented their EP to Dillon's husband and manager Sam Lakeman