Denali National Park and Preserve
Mt McKinley seen from
Wonder Lake
Size: 6.03 million acres
Year Established: 1917
Major Physical Features: Alaska Range (which includes Mt. McKinley at a height of 20,320 ft, or 6,194
m), glaciers, thermokarst, tundra, rivers, lakes
Vegetation: Based on current information, Denali has 1222 species of vascular plants
Wildlife: Based on current information, Denali has 37 species of mammals, 181 species of birds,
14 species of fish, 1 species of amphibian, and an unknown number of invertebrates
Special Interest: Denali is designated as an International Biosphere Reserve under the United
Nations Man and the Biosphere Program
The Alaska Range acts as a barrier to precipitation from the south, and thus creates two distinct climates in Denali: a wetter, maritime climate on the south side of the range, and a drier, continental climate to the north. Temperature extremes in the northern part of the park can range from winter lows of -58°F (-50°C) to summer highs of 86°F (+30°C). Numerous glaciers flow down out of the high mountains in the Alaska Range and currently cover more than 1/6 of the land area of the park. Much of Denali's landscape was shaped by past glaciation.
The diverse vegetation communities of Denali are characteristic of subarctic areas where the growing season is short and soils are nutrient poor. These communities populate a variety of landscapes ranging from low lying wetlands to rolling tundra foothills and rugged alpine areas.
Blueberries
Denali National Park and Preserve was established in 1917 in large part because of its vast wildlife resources. Based on current information, Denali contains 14 species of fish, 1 amphibian, 37 species of mammals (including 1 species of bat), and an unknown number of invertebrates. Denali's birds include species whose ranges cover 6 continents. Each summer they converge on this rich subarctic landscape to breed and raise their young. At least 149 species of birds occur regularly in Denali. Of these, nearly 80% are migratory.
Since its founding, Denali has had a long history of scientific exploration and environmental research. A prototype Long-term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM) program was begun in Denali in 1992. The program provided a wealth of experience and expertise to the Central Alaska Network during development of the inventory and monitoring plan.
Ptarmigan
Denali is designated as an International Biosphere Reserve under the United Nations Man and the Biosphere Program. The designation is made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Man and the Biosphere Program. The purpose of biosphere reserves are to assure worldwide protected areas where long-term ecological research will be possible on natural processes to compare with human altered areas and to assure protection of genetic diversity.
Visit the archived Denali Long Term Ecological Monitoring Website.