8. Denali National Park
Today’s park is Denali national park! Alaska was state 47 of my 50 states project from back in 2019. The last national park in that series. The Park was established Feb 26th 1917 and holds the record for being the 3rd largest US national park at over 6 Million acres and the record for being home to the largest mountain in North America. Denali formerly Mount Mckinley or formerly Denali… peaks at 20,310 feet. Making it the 3rd largest Mountain in the world. But People like to compare how Mount Everest begins on a 14,000-foot high plateau or plain, then summits at 29,028 feet. Suggesting the actual Mountain is only 15,000 ft, while Mount McKinley's base sits at about 2,000 feet above sea level and rises to its 20,310 foot summit. Making the Mountain 18,000 ft. But if we choose to measure differently there is a Hawaiian Mountain starting below sea level that can make its own claim to fame. So sticking to the standard measurements from sea level 3rd biggest world wide is still a pretty big deal. It’s so large it creates a barrier from the moist Alaskan Gulf air causing clouds to form around the mountain that often affect visibility. Some say only about 30% of visitors to Denali National Park get a clear view of the mountain due to clouds.
Denali is also known as one of the coldest mountains due to its subarctic location and one of the hardest climbs but that’s out of my expertise. If you’ve ever climbed the mountain get in my comments and tell us all about it!
Denali National park is also know for a vast amount of glaciers, covering ⅙ off the whole park. Like the many arms of a centipede, 400 glaciers flow through the Park down into rivers that eventually reach the ocean. The Kahiltna Glacier(KA Hilt Na) is the longest in the park, running 44 miles. But not quite as long as the 92 mile single road that runs through the park.
First established specifically to protect the wildlife living along the slopes and in the valleys of the Alaska Range. And later in 1980 the park tripled in size and included the Mountain. So what wildlife is living here you may ask? Some of the most iconic, large mammals, such as grizzly, black bears, wolves, caribou, moose and Dall's sheep, can all be seen by visitors. Plus many species of birds! I’ve got 7 More Alaskan parks to research so I just want to Highlight the Dall’s Sheep quick. These sheep are native to northwest North America and have never been domesticated. a population of about 1000 live inside Denali Park. At first glance some may call them mountain goats. but the Dall sheep differ most in their horns which can curl in a full circle.
Let me know if you’ve been to Denali yet or what you want to see most if you got to go. I’d like to join the 30% club and see the mountain and as much wildlife as possible! From a safe distance of course... Next up we’re gonna talk about one of my favorite parks!
Shop my Denali National Park Print here!