Lake Clark National Park and
Preserve
(Printer version Lake
Clark National Park and Preserve)
The Land
The northern boundary of
Lake
Clark National Park and Preserve is approximately 100 miles southwest of
Anchorage and is only accessible only by air. The park includes almost all of
the rugged Chigmit Mountains, which are located at the convergence of the Alaska
and Aleutian mountain ranges. The southwestern boundary runs approximately 30
miles north of Lake Iliamna.
Flora and Fauna
Several species of
big
game live in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Both Black and Brown
(Grizzly) Bears are present pretty much throughout the park. Black Bears are
absent from the higher elevations. Brown Bears can be found in especially
sizable concentrations along Chinitna Bay. Moose live throughout the park with
Caribou found mainly in the hills. Dall Sheep number around 600 animals and
range at higher elevations along the western flank of the Chigmit Mountains.
Smaller animals found in the park include: Coyotes, Wolves, Red Fox, Lynx,
Marten, River Otter, Wolverine, Weasels, Mink, Hares and Beaver.
Over 125 species of waterfowl,
shorebirds,
raptors, falcons, owls, songbirds, grouse, and ptarmigan live in Lake Clark
National Park and Preserve.
The importance of the Bristol Bay watershed, adjacent to Lake Clark National
Park and Preserve, to the commercial Sockeye Salmon industry cannot be
overstated. Fully 16% of the total world catch of Sockeye Salmon was reared in
the Bristol Bay waterhshed. Sportfishing for five species of salmon, rainbow
trout, Dolly Varden, lake trout, northern pike, and arctic grayling is a popular
attraction.
History
The prehistory of Lake
Clark
National Park and Preserve is largely unknown given little excavation of
prehistoric sites. It is know that Paleoarctic peoples were active near Lake
Clark at least 6,000 years ago. The historic native group in the area is Tanaina
or Dena'ina Indian.
Salmon canneries opened in Bristol Bay in 1884, and by the early 1900s, some
Dena'ina were obtaining cash income from this new industry. Along with salmon,
gold-mining activity attracted non-natives into the area.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve was created in 1980 under the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act. This act states that it is to be
managed, "to protect the watershed necessary for the perpetuation of the red
salmon fishery in Bristol Bay; to maintain unimpaired the scenic beauty and
quality of portions of the Alaska Range and the Aleutian Range, including
volcanoes, glaciers, wild rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and alpine meadows in their
natural state; and to protect habitats for and populations of fish and wildlife,
including, but not limited to caribou, Dall sheep, brown/grizzly bears, bald
eagles, and peregrine falcons."
Transportation
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is accessible by aircraft from Anchorage.
More Information
For more information on Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, visit the
National Park Service website at
www.nps.gov/lacl/.
Alaska
National Parks
Denali National Park,
Kenai Fjords National Park,
Lake Clark National Park,
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Alaska State
Parks by Region
Anchorage,
Interior Alaska,
Kenai Peninsula,
Kodiak,
Mat-Su Valley,
Prince William Sound,
Southeast Alaska,
Southwest Alaska
Alaska State Parks by Name
Anchor River State Recreation Area and Stariski SRS,
Birch Lake State Recreation Site,
Caines Head State Recreation Area and Resurrection Bay State Marine Parks,
Captain Cook State Recreation Area,
Chena River State Recreation Area,
Chena River State Recreation Site,
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve,
Chugach State Park,
Clam Gulch State Recreation Area,
Deep Creek State Recreation Area,
Delta Junction Area State Parks,
Denali State Park,
Haines Area State Parks,
Harding Lake State Recreation Area,
Independence Mine State Historical Park,
Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park,
Kasilof Area State Parks,
Kenai River Special Management Area,
Kodiak Area State Parks,
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area,
Ninilchik State Recreation Area,
Point Bridget State Park,
Salcha River State Recreation Site,
Sitka Area State Parks,
State Marine Parks in Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay,
Summit Lake State Recreation Site,
Tok Area
Parks,
Totem Bight State Historical Park,
Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site,
Wickersham State Historic Site,
Wood-Tikchik State Park
For information on Alaska State Parks, visit the Alaska State Parks web site.
