Umiat is a remote, unincorporated locality and significant airstrip situated in the North Slope Borough of Alaska, United States. It is located on the Colville River, north of the Brooks Range, within the Arctic Coastal Plain. Umiat serves primarily as a logistical hub, weather station, and air traffic control point for activities in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A) and surrounding Arctic regions.
Historically, Umiat gained prominence during World War II as a site for military air operations and as a base for Arctic exploration and scientific research. Its strategic location made it a key outpost for meteorological observations and as a staging area for expeditions into the remote northern Alaskan wilderness. During the Cold War, it served as a site for the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line system, although this particular aspect is sometimes debated, with primary DEW Line sites being further north.
Currently, Umiat functions as an active, unpaved airstrip (Umiat Airport, FAA LID: UMT) critical for supporting oil and gas exploration, environmental research, and other governmental and commercial operations in the vast NPR-A. It is not a permanent residential settlement; its population consists entirely of transient personnel working at the facility or supporting operations in the region. The site's infrastructure is limited, typically comprising temporary housing, maintenance facilities, and communication equipment.
The climate at Umiat is Arctic, characterized by extremely cold, long winters and short, cool summers. The terrain is dominated by tundra and permafrost, with numerous lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Wildlife in the area includes caribou, grizzly bears, and various migratory birds. Access to Umiat is almost exclusively by air, as there are no permanent roads connecting it to other populated areas.