BEAUFORT SEA is that part of the Arctic sea that lies be tween Alaska and the Canadian Arctic islands. It is shallow to the south and east, but to the north-west deepens to 1,600 fathoms or more. It is generally covered with drifting ice and has not been penetrated by any ship although many vessels have navigated its Alaskan border in summer. S. Storkersen (1918) and D. Mac millan (1914) have travelled over its ice and Amundsen and Nobile (1926) and G. H. Wilkins (1927 and 1928) have flown over it, but many parts of the sea are unexplored. No land is believed to lie within its area. (See ARCTIC REGIONS.)