温德河，布鲁克斯山脉，北极国家野生动物保护区，阿拉斯加州，美国 Wind River, Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska (© Design Pics/DanitaDelimont)

温德河，布鲁克斯山脉，北极国家野生动物保护区，阿拉斯加州，美国 Wind River, Brooks Range, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska (© Design Pics/DanitaDelimont)

河流的狂野舞蹈 River's wild dance

温德河，北极国家野生动物保护区，阿拉斯加州

你是否想过美国那些野生河流是如何保持原始状态的？这要归功于《野生与风景河流法案》，它于1968年的今天被签署成为法律。这项立法还创建了国家野生与风景河流系统，旨在保护那些具有杰出的自然、文化以及休闲价值的特定河流，使其保持自由流动的状态。这个国家系统管理着40个州的209条河流，它们的总长超过12700英里，但不到美国350万英里河流的四分之一。在这个系统中，河流被分类为野生、风景或休闲河流。例如今天图片中看到的温德河就是一条野生河流，它尚处于孤立且未被开发的状态。这条85英里长的河流从菲利普·史密斯山脉流向昌达拉河的东支，蜿蜒穿过一个布满湖泊和湿地的河谷。作为北极国家野生动物保护区的一部分，这个河谷是一个繁荣的栖息地，居住着白大角羊、驼鹿、北美驯鹿、灰熊等动物。在这个充满变化的世界里，还有如此原生态的河流，真令人欣慰。

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Ever wonder how some of our rivers stay unspoiled? It's thanks to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which was signed into law on this day in 1968. This legislation created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, which preserves rivers with exceptional natural, cultural, and recreational qualities.

The national rivers system oversees more than 13,000 miles of 228 rivers across 41 states and Puerto Rico, a tiny fraction of the 3.5 million miles of US rivers. It categorizes rivers as wild, scenic, or recreational. The Wind River in northeastern Alaska, seen in today's image, is a wild river, isolated and undeveloped. It flows for 85 miles, from the Philip Smith Mountains to the East Fork of the Chandalar River, winding through a valley filled with lakes and wetlands. Part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, this river valley is a bustling habitat for Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and grizzly bears. In a changing world, it's comforting to know these rivers will remain unchanged.