Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

Browse images from a wide range of science topics covered by USGS.

Filter Total Items: 985
The old Kennecott copper mill in the winter with the characteristic red colored buildings
The old Kennecott copper mill in the winter
The old Kennecott copper mill in the winter
The old Kennecott copper mill in the winter

The old Kennecott copper mill in the winter.  Kennecott was once a thriving mine and mill during the early 1900s. The mines are 5 miles up the mountain.

The old Kennecott copper mill in the winter.  Kennecott was once a thriving mine and mill during the early 1900s. The mines are 5 miles up the mountain.

Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) on the Colville River Delta
Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) on the Colville River Delta
Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) on the Colville River Delta
Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) on the Colville River Delta

Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) on the Colville River Delta. Photo by Ryan Askren, USGS.

Common Eider pair in the water
Common Eider pair
Common Eider pair
Common Eider pair

A mated pair of Common Eider swim across a lake in northern Alaska.

Photography by Jeff Wasley.

A mated pair of Common Eider swim across a lake in northern Alaska.

Photography by Jeff Wasley.

permafrost
Bog and boreal forest in Alaska
Bog and boreal forest in Alaska
Bog and boreal forest in Alaska

Stark comparison between bog (no permafrost) in the foreground and a boreal forest (with permafrost) in the background in the Alaskan interior.

Stark comparison between bog (no permafrost) in the foreground and a boreal forest (with permafrost) in the background in the Alaskan interior.

Walruses are very social
Walruses are very social
Walruses are very social

Walruses are very social animals and like to be in constant contact with other walruses. Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3

Walruses are very social animals and like to be in constant contact with other walruses. Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3

USGS wildlife biologist working with walruses
USGS wildlife biologist working with walruses
USGS wildlife biologist working with walruses
USGS wildlife biologist working with walruses

Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.

Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.

Walruses resting on the shore
Walruses resting on shore near Point Lay, Alaska
Walruses resting on shore near Point Lay, Alaska
Walruses resting on shore near Point Lay, Alaska

Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.

Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.

Walrus on the shore
An adult female walrus rests on the edge of a large haulout
An adult female walrus rests on the edge of a large haulout
An adult female walrus rests on the edge of a large haulout

Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.

Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.

Image shows a pyramidal rock formation with grass around it and three USGS scientists standing near the base
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska

Geologists measuring petroleum source rocks in Triassic rocks along Surprise Creek in southern part of Western North Slope.

An aerial shot of Surprise Creek winding its way past exposed rock formations and grass-covered rolling hills
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska

Faulted and folded Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous rocks along Surprise Creek in southern part of Western North Slope. The Triassic and Jurassic rocks include petroleum source rocks from which oil was generated. Geologists in orange vests for scale.

Faulted and folded Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous rocks along Surprise Creek in southern part of Western North Slope. The Triassic and Jurassic rocks include petroleum source rocks from which oil was generated. Geologists in orange vests for scale.

Image shows exposed rock formations with grass coverings
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska
Surprise Creek, Western North Slope of Alaska

Geologist describes petroleum source rocks in Triassic and Jurassic rocks along Surprise Creek in southern part of Western North Slope.

Flooding encroaches on trees, Exit Creek
Flooding encroaches on trees, Exit Creek
Flooding encroaches on trees, Exit Creek
Exit Creek flooding on the road
Exit Creek flooding
Exit Creek flooding
Exit Creek flooding

Exit Creek flooding across the road

Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik

Neal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure.  Photo by M.

Neal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure.  Photo by M.

Aerial view toward the southwest of the actively erupting cone within Veniaminof caldera
Aerial view toward the southwest of the actively erupting cone within Veniaminof caldera
Aerial view toward the southwest of the actively erupting cone within Veniaminof caldera
Aerial view toward the southwest of the actively erupting cone within Veniaminof caldera

Aerial view toward the southwest of the actively erupting cone within Veniaminof caldera. The white steam plume is produced where a lava flow is descending the side of the cone and melting snow and ice. The darker colored, ashy plume is rising in bursts from the active vent.

Aerial view toward the southwest of the actively erupting cone within Veniaminof caldera. The white steam plume is produced where a lava flow is descending the side of the cone and melting snow and ice. The darker colored, ashy plume is rising in bursts from the active vent.

Scenic sunrise over a lake on the north slope of Alaska
Scenic sunrise over a lake on the north slope of Alaska
Scenic sunrise over a lake on the north slope of Alaska
Scenic sunrise over a lake on the north slope of Alaska

Scenic sunrise over a lake at the Chipp South research camp on the north slope of Alaska.

A handful of adult ninespine stickleback on a measuring board
A handful of adult ninespine stickleback
A handful of adult ninespine stickleback
A handful of adult ninespine stickleback

A handful of adult ninespine stickleback ready to be measured for total body length. These fish are ubiquitous in freshwater habitats of the Arctic Coastal Plain, outnumbering other fish species by as many as 800 individuals to one.

A handful of adult ninespine stickleback ready to be measured for total body length. These fish are ubiquitous in freshwater habitats of the Arctic Coastal Plain, outnumbering other fish species by as many as 800 individuals to one.

Was this page helpful?