FACTOID # 52: In Botswana, more than one in three adults aged 15-49 are infected with HIV/AIDS.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Denali National Park and Preserve
Denali National Park and Preserve
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location: Alaska, USA
Nearest city: Healy, AK
Coordinates: 63°20′0″N, 150°30′0″W
Area: 6,075,106.73 acres
(24,585.1 km²)
Established: February 26, 1917
Visitation: 404,236 (in 2004)
Governing body: National Park Service

Denali National Park and Preserve is located in Interior Alaska and contains Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. The park and preserve together cover 9,492 mi² (24,585 km²). The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, UK A national park is a reserve of land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. ... Image File history File links Locator_Dot. ... Image File history File links US_Locator_Blank. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Healy is a small town on the Parks highway a few miles north of the entrence to Denali National Park. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... Fall in Interior Alaska The interior of Alaska makes up most of the state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 10,000 km² and 100,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ...

Contents

Overview

The word "Denali" means "the High One" in the native Athabaskan language and refers to the mountain itself. The mountain was named after president William McKinley of Ohio in 1897 by local prospector William A. Dickey, although McKinley had no connection with the region. Areas in which Athabaskan languages and Eyak and Tlingit are traditionally spoken Athabaskan or Athabascan (also Athapascan or Athapaskan) is the name of a large group of distantly related Native American peoples, also known as the Athabasca Indians or Athapaskes, located in two main Southern and Northern groups in western... William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901) was the 25th President of the United States. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...


Charles Sheldon took an interest in the Dall sheep native to the region, and became concerned that human encroachment may threaten the species. After his 1907-1908 visit, he petitioned the people of Alaska and Congress to create a preserve for the sheep. (His account of the visit was published posthumously as The Wilderness of Denali, ISBN 1-56833-152-5). The park was established as Mount McKinley National Park on February 26, 1917. Ironically, only a portion of Mount McKinley (not even including the summit) was within the original park boundary. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. A separate Denali National Monument was proclaimed by Jimmy Carter on December 1, 1978. Binomial name Ovis dalli Nelson, 1884 The Dall Sheep (originally Dalls Sheep, sometimes called Thinhorn Sheep), Ovis dalli, is a wild sheep of the mountainous regions of northwest North America, ranging from white to slate brown and having curved yellowish brown horns. ... Type Bicameralism Houses Senate House of Representatives United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D, since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D, since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Denali National Park
Denali National Park

Mount McKinley National Park, whose name had been subject to local criticism from the onset, and Denali National Monument were incorporated and established into Denali National Park and Preserve by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, December 2, 1980. At this time the Alaska Board of Geographic Names changed the name of the mountain back to "Denali," even though the U.S. Board of Geographic Names maintains "McKinley". Alaskans tend to use "Denali" and rely on context to distinguish between the park and the mountain. The size of the national park is over 6 million acres (19,185.78 km²), of which 4,724,735.16 acres are federally owned. The national preserve is 1,334,200 acres (543.09 km²), of which 1,304,132 acres are federally owned. On December 2, 1980, a 2,146,580 acre Denali Wilderness was established within the park. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3264x2448, 2580 KB) Summary Picture was taken by me in the summer of 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3264x2448, 2580 KB) Summary Picture was taken by me in the summer of 2005. ... The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) was an American law passed in 1980 by U.S. Congress and signed by President Jimmy Carter on December 2, 1980. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The parks of the United States National Park system are one type of protected area in the United States and are operated by the National Park Service. ... National Preserve is a designation applied by the United States Congress to protected areas that have characteristics normally associated with US National Parks but where certain activities not allowed in National Parks are permitted. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Denali Wilderness is a wilderness area in Alaska, United States. ...


Denali habitat is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga. The preserve is also home to tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, rock, and snow at the highest elevations. Today, the park hosts more than 400,000 visitors who enjoy wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. Wintertime recreation includes dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling where allowed. The taiga is found throughout the high northern latitudes, just below the tundra, and just above the steppes. ... Mountaineering is the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking and climbing up mountains. ... Backpacking in the Grand Teton National Park, United States Backpacking (also tramping or trekking or bushwalking in some countries) combines hiking and camping in a single trip. ... Dog sled A dog sled (or dogsled) is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. ... Cross-country skiing (also known as XC skiing) is a winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields, primarily Northern Europe and Canada. ... A snowmobile tour at Yellowstone National Park (NPS Photo) A snowmobile is a land vehicle propelled by one or two rubber tracks, with skis for steering. ...


The national park is located near Denali State Park. Denali State Park is a state park in Alaska. ...


Wildlife

Grizzly bear in Denali National Park
Grizzly bear in Denali National Park

Denali is home to a variety of Alaskian birds and mammals, including a healthy population of grizzly bears and black bears. Herds of caribou roam throughout the park. Dall sheep are often seen on mountainsides, and moose feed on the aquatic plants of the small lakes and swamps. Despite human impact on the area, Denali accommodates gray wolf dens, both historic and active. Smaller animals, such as hoary marmots, arctic ground squirrels, beavers, pikas, and snowshoe hares are seen in abundance. Foxes, martens, lynx, wolverines also inhabit the park, but are more rarely seen due to their elusive natures. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1126, 319 KB) Summary Grizzly bear in autumn in Denali National Park. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1126, 319 KB) Summary Grizzly bear in autumn in Denali National Park. ... // Trinomial name Ursus arctos horribilis (Ord, 1815) Current and historical range of the Grizzly Bear in North America The grizzly bear, sometimes called the silvertip bear, is a powerful brownish-yellow bear that lives in the uplands of western North America. ... Binomial name Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780 Black Bear redirects here. ... Binomial name Rangifer tarandus The reindeer, known as caribou in North America, is an Arctic-dwelling deer (Rangifer tarandus). ... Binomial name Ovis dalli Nelson, 1884 The Dall Sheep (originally Dalls Sheep, sometimes called Thinhorn Sheep), Ovis dalli, is a wild sheep of the mountainous regions of northwest North America, ranging from white to slate brown and having curved yellowish brown horns. ... Binomial name Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758) Moose range map The moose (so named in North America) or elk (in Europe), Alces alces, is the largest member of the deer family Cervidae, distinguished from the others by the palmate antlers of its males. ... Gray Wolves redirects here. ... Binomial name Marmota caligata (Eschscholtz, 1829) The Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) is found in the mountains of northwest North America. ... Binomial name Spermophilus parryii Richardson, 1825 Subspecies The Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) is a species of ground squirrel native to the Arctic. ... Species C. canadensis C. fiber Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents native to North America and Europe. ... Type Species Ochotona minor Link, 1795 (= Lepus dauuricus Pallas, 1776) Species See text The name pika (archaically spelled pica) is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). ... Binomial name Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777 The Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) is a species of hare found in North America. ... Fox is a general term applied to any one of roughly 27 species of small to medium-sized omnivorous canids in the tribe vulpini with sharp features and a brush-like tail. ... Species Martes americana Martes flavigula Martes foina Martes gwatkinsii Martes martes Martes melampus Martes pennanti Martes zibellina for the Wiltshire village see Marten, Wiltshire The Martens constitute the genus Martes within the subfamily Mustelinae, in family Mustelidae. ... Species Lynx lynx Lynx canadensis Lynx pardinus Lynx rufus A lynx is any of several medium-sized wild cats. ... Binomial name Gulo gulo (Linnaeus, 1758) The Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest land-dwelling species of the Mustelidae or weasel family (the sea otter is largest overall); and is the only species currently classified in the genus Gulo (meaning glutton). It is also called the Glutton or Carcajou. ...


The park is also well known for its bird population. Many migratory species reside in the park during late spring and summer. Birdwatchers may find waxwings, arctic warblers, pine grosbeaks, and wheatears, as well as Ptarmigan and the majestic tundra swan. Predatory birds inclued a variety of hawks, owls, and the gyrfalcon, as well as the abundant but striking golden eagle. Species B. garrulus B. cedrorum The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. ... Binomial name Pinicola enucleator (Linnaeus,, 1758) The Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator, is a large finch. ... Binomial name See text Species See text The wheatears, genus Oenanthe, were formerly considered to be members of the thrush family Turdidae. ... Binomial name Lagopus mutus (Montin, 1781) The Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) is a small (31-35 cm) bird in the grouse family. ... Binomial name Cygnus columbianus (Ord, 1815) The Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) is a small Northern Hemisphere swan. ... // Binomial name Falco rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758 The Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), also spelled Gyr Falcon (The g is pronounced as j in jar), is a large bird of prey. ... Binomial name Aquila chrysaetos Linnaeus, 1758 World distribution of the golden eagle Light green = Nesting area Blue = Wintering area Dark green = All year distribution The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. ...


Ten species of fish, including trout, salmon, and arctic grayling share the waters of the park. Because many of the rivers and lakes of Denali are fed by glaciers, glacial silt and cold temperatures slow the metabolism of the fish, preventing them from reaching normal sizes. A single amphibious species, the wood frog, also lives among the lakes of the park. Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Biwa trout, Oncorhynchus masou subsp Trout is the common name given to a number of species of freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family, Salmonidae. ... Illustration of a male Coho Salmon The Chinook or King Salmon is the largest salmon in North America and can grow to 1. ... Binomial name Thymallus arcticus (Pallas, 1776) The Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family (family Salmonidae) of order Salmoniformes. ... Binomial name Rana sylvatica LeConte, 1825 Wood Frog range Wood Frog is the common name given to Rana sylvatica. ...


Denali park rangers maintain a constant effort to "keep the wildlife wild" by limiting the interaction between humans and park animals. Feeding animals is strictly forbidden, as it may cause adverse affects on the feeding habits of the creature. Visitors are encouraged to view animals from safe distances. Despite the large concentration of bears in the park, efforts by rangers to educate backpackers and visitors about preventative measures and BRFCs have greatly reduced the number of dangerous encounters. Certain areas of the park are often closed due to uncommon wildlife activity, such as denning areas of wolves and bears or recent kill sites. These restricted areas may change throughout the year. Through the collective care of park staff and visitors, Denali has become a premier destination for wildlife viewing. A captive bear tests a canister Bear-resistant food storage containers, commonly called bear canisters or simply bear cans, are usually hard-sided containers used by backpackers to protect their food from theft by bears. ...


Flora

The Alaska Range, a mountainous expanse running through the entire park, provides interesting ecosystems in Denali. Because the fall line lies as low as 2,500 feet, wooded areas are rare inside the park, except in the flatter western sections surrounding Wonder Lake, and lowlands of the park where flowing waters melt the frozen ground. Spruces and willows make up the majority of these treed areas. Because of mineral content, ground temperature, and a general lack of soil, areas surrounding the bases of mountains are not suitable for sufficient tree growth, and most trees and shrubs do not reach full size. View of Denali, the centre piece of the Alaska range, on a rare clear day . The Alaska Range is a mountain range that extends for about 650 km (400 mi) across south-central Alaska, from Iliamna Lake at the SW end to White River in Canada at the SE end. ... The fall line has meanings in both geographical features and the sport of alpine skiing. ... Species About 35; see text. ... Species About 350, including: Salix acutifolia - Violet Willow Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow Salix alba - White Willow Salix alpina - Alpine Willow Salix amygdaloides - Peachleaf Willow Salix arbuscula - Mountain Willow Salix arbusculoides - Littletree Willow Salix arctica - Arctic Willow Salix atrocinerea Salix aurita - Eared Willow Salix babylonica - Peking Willow Salix bakko Salix barrattiana...


Tundra is the predominate ground cover of the park. Layers of topsoil collect on rotten, fragmented rock moved by thousands of years of glacial activity. Mosses, ferns, grasses, and fungi quickly fill the topsoil, and in areas of "wet tundra," tussocks form and may collect algae. Wild blueberries and soap berries thrive in this landscape, and provide the bears of Denali with the main part of their diets. In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. ... Subclasses Sphagnidae Andreaeidae Tetraphidae Polytrichidae Archidiidae Buxbaumiidae Bryidae Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1-10 cm tall, occasionally more. ... Classes Psilotopsida Equisetopsida Marattiopsida Polypodiopsida A fern is any one of a group of about 20,000 species of plants classified in the phylum or division Pteridophyta, also known as Filicophyta. ... Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. ... Tusock grass can be any tall strong growing grass; one that grows in thick clumps or tussocks. ... A seaweed (Laurencia) up close: the branches are multicellular and only about 1 mm thick. ... For other uses, see Blueberry (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt. ...


Over 450 species of flowering plants fill the park, and can be viewed in bloom throughout summer. Images of goldenrod, fireweed, lupine, bluebell, and gentian filling the valleys of Denali are often used on postcards and in artwork. Species See text. ... Binomial name Epilobium angustifolium L. For the tropical plant, see Crassocephalum. ... Lupine may be one of several things: Something that is like, or relating to, a wolf (Canis lupus). ... The term bluebell can refer to the following: English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) or Spanish Bluebell () Bluebell of Scotland (Campanula rotundifolia, called harebell in England) and other Campanula species Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Bluebell The name of one of the rabbits in the book Watership Down by Richard Adams BlueBell... Species See text. ...


Vehicle access

Mt McKinley and Wonder Lake viewed from Denali NP access road

The park is serviced by a single access road around 90 miles in length. Only a small fraction of the road is paved because permafrost and the freeze-thaw cycle create an enormous cost for maintaining the road. Private vehicles are not allowed on unpaved portions; however, visitors may access the interior of the park through buses operated by concession. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3292x2400, 855 KB) Summary Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3292x2400, 855 KB) Summary Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska. ... In geology, permafrost or permafrost soil is a thermal condition where ground material stays at or below 0°C for two or more years. ... An articulated bus operated by the CTA in Chicago, Illinois, USA. A Go North East Bus parked in a lay-by in Tyne and Wear, England A bus is a large road vehicle intended to carry numerous persons in addition to the driver and sometimes a conductor. ... A concession is a facility operated under a contract or license. ...


Also available are 6-8 hour "Tundra Wilderness Tours" that include narration of various points of interest in the park by the drivers. The tours travel from the initial boreal forests through tundra to Polychrome Pass, an overlook from which Mount McKinley can be viewed on clear days (although the weather is clear only 20% of the time). The road near the pass is dangerous, with sheer cliffs dropping hundreds of feet at the edges, and the extreme conditions prevent construction of guardrails. As a result of the danger involved, and because most of the gravel road is only one lane wide, drivers are trained extensively in procedures for navigating the sharp mountain curves, and yielding the right-of-way to opposing buses and park vehicles. Taiga (SAMPA /taIg@/, from Russian тайга́) is a biome characterized by its coniferous forests. ... In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. ... Denali redirects here. ... geography, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. ... Gravel being unloaded from a barge Gravel is rock that is of a certain grain size range. ... Nighttime traffic captured by a camera over several seconds. ...


McKinley is not accessible by motor vehicle; the road ends 37 miles (59 km) to its east.


Fossils

Denali is emerging as a site of interesting fossils, including footprints (ichnites) that were credited with being the first evidence of prehistoric wading birds, probing in mudflats for food during the Late Cretaceous Period, when they were first publicly reported in May 2006. A footprint of a carnivorous theropod had previously been reported in the park. A fossilized dinosaur footprint from a fossil trackway at Clayton Lake State Park, New Mexico. ... The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... A geologic period is a subdivision of geologic time that divides an era into smaller timeframes. ... Families See text Theropods (beast foot) are a group of bipedal, primarily carnivorous dinosaurs, belonging to the saurischian (lizard-hip) family. ...


External links



 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.