surrounding several small lakes, 17 mi. S of Teshekpuk Lake, Arctic Plain.
South of Teshekpuk Lake and the Beaufort Sea, Pik Dunes is an area within the Northeastern portion of the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPRA) and the extreme southcentral part of the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area.
The dunes cover an area of roughly 15 square miles, stretching north/south about 5½ miles, and east/west around 5 miles. The Pik Dunes, form a basin where several large drained lakes have resulted in an expanse of sand now containing five lakes. The larger dune area has since grown vegetation over several thousand of years. The Pik Dunes are unique, because they are still exposed and active. Beyond their geologic and scenic uniqueness, the dunes provide: insect relief habitat for caribou, habitat for several uncommon plant species, and data critical to understanding major climatic fluctuations over the last 12,000 years.
Surface structures, except approximately perpendicular pipeline crossings and ice pads, are prohibited within the Pik Dunes. Audobon has a stance that "No surface activity or crossing should be allowed in the Pik Dunes area."
The easiest way to get out to the Pik Dunes is to fly into Nuiqsut then catch a charter flight or travel up the Kalikpik River, up to the Pik Dunes.
Named by Orth in 1956. It is an Eskimo word (piq)), meaning "dish (or pot)" descriptive of the lakes among the dunes.Naming
Named by Donald Orth in 1956, it is an Eskimo word (piq) meaning dish (or pot)," being descriptive of the lakes among the dunes.