Kenai Fjords National Park
The Land and Sea
Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses the southeastern portion of the Alaska's
Kenai Peninsula and is located approximately 100 miles south of Anchorage. Park
headquarters is located in Seward.
Nearly 65% of the Harding ice field, as well as
the
fjords, islands and peninsulas of the Kenai coast make up the park. Numerous
glaciers flow out from the ice field with some reaching the sea and others
ending in lakes or on bare ground.
Many glaciers have cut deep bays into the mountainous shoreline, creating a
series of deep fjords. Heavy wooded areas cover the tops of high cliffs, some
rising a hundred feet or more above the ocean.
Flora and Fauna
The park's coastal area contains an abundance of sea life, including sea lions,
seals, sea otters and migrating whales. Large salmon runs are also common in the
park.
Moose, bears,
mountain
goats, wolverines and marmots live in the park. Bald eagles are also quite
common and nest in the tops of spruce and hemlock trees. Seabirds, including
tufted and horned puffins, common murres and black-legged kittiwakes inhabit
rocky shores and steep cliffs.
Trees and other plants are extremely varied in the park given the range of
geographic features and climate zones. Interior valleys are primarily comprised
of Sitka spruce and birch forest with hemlock, bunchberry, mountain cranberry,
and devil's club crowding the forest floor. Sitka spruce and rich growths of
devil's club, salmonberry, and skunk cabbage are found along the coast. Large
stands of kelp forest dominate the intertidal zone.
History
Little is known about the extended history of native peoples who once lived in
the Kenai Fjords National Park region but in more recent times, this area was
occupied by the Chugachigmiut, Unagalakmiut and Unixkugmiut peoples.
Captain Vitus Bering first viewed the Kenai
Peninsula in 1741. Following Captain James Cook's discovery of Cook Inlet
in 1778, the area became the scene of heated competition among rival fur
companies. Alaska was controlled by the Russians until the American purchase in
1868. The first permanent American settlement in the Seward area wasn't
established until 1884 and the railroad connecting Seward to the Interior was
completed in 1915.
Kenai Fjords National Park was created in 1980.
Transportation
Access to Kenai Fjords National Park can be made via the
Alaska
Railroad,
Alaska motorcoach or
Alaska rental car.
Lodging
The best
lodging
opportunity for park visitors is the
Hotel Edgewater,
located in downtown Seward near shopping, fishing, restaurants and only one
block from the
Alaska SeaLife Center.
More Information
For more information on Kenai Fjords National Park, visit the National Park
Service website at www.nps.gov/kefj/.
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.
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