Aurora in a Dark Night Sky
When the drape of night darkens the skies over Denali (from August through May), under the right conditions of solar flare activity, it is possible to see the aurora! Sometimes illumined in green, sometimes in red, the aurora can take the form of curtains, sheets, banners, bands, or ribbons--dancing and waving in the crisp, clear night sky.
When the drape of night darkens the skies over Denali (from August through May), under the right conditions of solar flare activity, it is possible to see the aurora! Sometimes illumined in green, sometimes in red, the aurora can take the form of curtains, sheets, banners, bands, or ribbons--dancing and waving in the crisp, clear night sky.
Foothills / The Alaska Range
A long strand of the 600-mile long Alaska Range lies within the park. High peaks provide a rock-and-ice scenic backdrop. Glaciers spill out of the mountains like ribbons of ice. The Denali fault, which runs in an arc through
the Alaska Range, is the source of thousands of earthquakes that rumble through the park each year. The spine of the Alaska Range divides the park into areas "north of the Range" and "south of the Range," that are different in
precipitation (moisture), temperature, glacier size, and vegetation. The Range's foot hills add to the diversity of habitats for plants and animals.
A long strand of the 600-mile long Alaska Range lies within the park. High peaks provide a rock-and-ice scenic backdrop. Glaciers spill out of the mountains like ribbons of ice. The Denali fault, which runs in an arc through
the Alaska Range, is the source of thousands of earthquakes that rumble through the park each year. The spine of the Alaska Range divides the park into areas "north of the Range" and "south of the Range," that are different in
precipitation (moisture), temperature, glacier size, and vegetation. The Range's foot hills add to the diversity of habitats for plants and animals.
Glaciers
Denali has many glaciers. Some of the largest glaciers in Denali are the Kahiltna Glacier and the Ruth Glacier (basically flowing south from the Alaska Range), and the Muldrow Glacier (flowing north). Some glaciers are visible from the park road (e.g., Muldrow, Polychrome). The most dramatic views of glaciers are from the air. There are plenty of opportunities to match glaciology terms (crevasse, medial or terminal moraine, erratic, arete) with real landscape features! Mountain climbers start their ascent of Denali (Mount McKinley) from Basecamp on the Kahiltna Glacier. When conditions allow a glacier to slip along much faster than usual for a limited period of time, the glacier is said to be surging.
Denali has many glaciers. Some of the largest glaciers in Denali are the Kahiltna Glacier and the Ruth Glacier (basically flowing south from the Alaska Range), and the Muldrow Glacier (flowing north). Some glaciers are visible from the park road (e.g., Muldrow, Polychrome). The most dramatic views of glaciers are from the air. There are plenty of opportunities to match glaciology terms (crevasse, medial or terminal moraine, erratic, arete) with real landscape features! Mountain climbers start their ascent of Denali (Mount McKinley) from Basecamp on the Kahiltna Glacier. When conditions allow a glacier to slip along much faster than usual for a limited period of time, the glacier is said to be surging.
Denali: North America's Highest Mountain
The most prominent feature of Denali National Park and Preserve is "the mountain" or Denali, an Athabaskan word meaning the "high one". Officially known as Mount McKinley, this "roof of North America" includes the South Peak, the official highest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet (6,166 meters), and, about two miles away, the North Peak at 19,470 feet (5,934 meters). Denali is a granite pluton massif (igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the Earth's surface). Uplift from tectonic activity continues.
The most prominent feature of Denali National Park and Preserve is "the mountain" or Denali, an Athabaskan word meaning the "high one". Officially known as Mount McKinley, this "roof of North America" includes the South Peak, the official highest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet (6,166 meters), and, about two miles away, the North Peak at 19,470 feet (5,934 meters). Denali is a granite pluton massif (igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the Earth's surface). Uplift from tectonic activity continues.
Fall Colors
Denali's autumn arrives early and doesn't stay long, but brings a spectacular palette of crimson and gold. Aspen, balsam poplar, and a variety of willows turn yellow. Bearberry, blueberry, dwarf birch, and shrub birch provide the
brushstrokes of red and orange.
Denali's autumn arrives early and doesn't stay long, but brings a spectacular palette of crimson and gold. Aspen, balsam poplar, and a variety of willows turn yellow. Bearberry, blueberry, dwarf birch, and shrub birch provide the
brushstrokes of red and orange.