Marvels of an Arctic Winter | America’s National Parks

as the months of winter pass only the

as the months of winter pass only the hardiest of creatures will be able to

hardiest of creatures will be able to

hardiest of creatures will be able to survive out in the open

survive out in the open

survive out in the open seemingly resigned to their fate but

seemingly resigned to their fate but

seemingly resigned to their fate but under the tundra some creatures are

under the tundra some creatures are

under the tundra some creatures are pulling off a small biological miracle

pulling off a small biological miracle

pulling off a small biological miracle the hibernating ground squirrels body

the hibernating ground squirrels body

the hibernating ground squirrels body temperature has actually dropped below

temperature has actually dropped below

temperature has actually dropped below freezing every two to three weeks he’ll

freezing every two to three weeks he’ll

freezing every two to three weeks he’ll start to shiver warming himself back up

start to shiver warming himself back up

start to shiver warming himself back up to normal temperatures a mysterious key

to normal temperatures a mysterious key

to normal temperatures a mysterious key to his survival the winters Sun barely

to his survival the winters Sun barely

to his survival the winters Sun barely breaks the horizon and during the almost

breaks the horizon and during the almost

breaks the horizon and during the almost perpetual night of the Arctic winter

perpetual night of the Arctic winter

perpetual night of the Arctic winter temperatures can plummet to lower than

temperatures can plummet to lower than

temperatures can plummet to lower than 50 degrees below zero

the fantastical Northern Lights billow

the fantastical Northern Lights billow and twist all winter above the Brooks

and twist all winter above the Brooks

and twist all winter above the Brooks Range

some native peoples believe the Northern

some native peoples believe the Northern Lights are the dancing spirits of the

Lights are the dancing spirits of the

Lights are the dancing spirits of the Dead science has an equally otherworldly

Dead science has an equally otherworldly

Dead science has an equally otherworldly explanation these sheets of light happen

explanation these sheets of light happen

explanation these sheets of light happen when charged particles from the Sun

when charged particles from the Sun

when charged particles from the Sun caught by the Earth’s magnetic field

caught by the Earth’s magnetic field

caught by the Earth’s magnetic field streamed down at the poles where they

streamed down at the poles where they

streamed down at the poles where they react with the atmosphere either way

react with the atmosphere either way

react with the atmosphere either way they are enchanting

after about seven months the arctic

after about seven months the arctic squirrel shivers himself awake ending

squirrel shivers himself awake ending

squirrel shivers himself awake ending his long hibernation ordeal

he’s lost about half his body weight and

he’s lost about half his body weight and wakes up hungry for food and female

wakes up hungry for food and female

wakes up hungry for food and female companionship