The Ivishak River, Alaska, USA

© Don Paulson/Danita Delimon

A river on the tundra

Welcome to the northernmost borough of the US state of Alaska and a view so mesmerising, it is protected by the US Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The magnificent colours and textures captured here show just a small section of the glacier-fed Ivishak River, which runs north for a total of 95 miles through the Philip Smith Mountains and the foothills of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The US Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was signed into law on 2 October 1968 aimed at protecting rivers with “outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values”.