05/11/2026
Rivers in northwest Alaska are turning orange due to melting permafrost, caused by climate change. As permafrost melts, iron and other trace minerals are released into rivers, causing the water and banks to turn orange and the potential for humans, fish, and wildlife to become contaminated. As Alaska faces the brunt of a warming climate, there is still a push for extractive projects like the proposed industrial Ambler Road that will only accelerate these climate catastrophes. The Bureau of Land Management found in 2023 that the Ambler Road would cause significant, accelerated permafrost thawing across Alaska’s Brooks Range, resulting in irreparable habitat damage.