The Beaufort Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska. It is frozen for most of the year, with only a narrow strip near the coast melting in late summer. The sea is named after Sir Francis Beaufort, a hydrographer. It is a major habitat for bowhead whales and belugas, which migrate through the ice leads. The Beaufort Sea is also known for its significant oil and natural gas reserves beneath the continental shelf, which has led to ongoing maritime boundary disputes between Canada and the United States. Climate change is impacting the region rapidly, with the thinning of sea ice allowing for longer shipping seasons but also causing coastal erosion and habitat loss for polar bears.