What rocks are found in Kenai Fjords National Park?

What rocks are found in Kenai Fjords National Park?

In the far western end of the park, a mixture of chert and basalt scraped from the ocean floor is jumbled with blocks of limestone that contain fossils matching those found in China and Afghanistan. These segments of rock moved from their original home are called terranes.

How old are the Kenai Fjords?

History. Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). It is a relatively small and accessible park by Alaskan national park standards, about 88% as big as Yosemite National Park.

How were the Kenai mountains formed?

65 million years ago, the Kenai Mountains originated from the sands and muds deposited on the sea floor. In the process of their formation, hot silica-rich fluids penetrated the young rocks and then crystallized to form milky white quartz veins.

Who created Kenai Fjords?

Kenai Fjords National Park On December 1, 1978, President Jimmy Carter invoked the Antiquities Act to protect some of the pristine areas of Alaska. One of the 17 national monuments he created was Kenai Fjords, located on the Kenai Peninsula in the south central part of the state.

Why is Kenai Fjords famous?

Kenai Fjords National Park is best known for its dramatic glaciers. Over 40 of them make their way down from the Harding Icefield, many cascading down to meet pacific ocean in a jaw-dropping display of beauty. This part of Alaska is also famous for its wildlife.

What animals live in Kenai Fjords?

The following land mammals can be found at Kenai Fjords National Park: black bear, brown bear, beaver, coyote, mountain goat, river otter, snowshoe hare, little brown bat, lynx, hoary marmot, marten, mink, moose, meadow jumping mouse, northern bog lemming, porcupine, shrew (5 species), red squirrel, vole (4 species).

Is there gold in the Kenai River?

Most of the gold on the Kenai Peninsula has been produced from placer deposits along Crow, Canyon, Resurrection, Lynx, Bear, Mills, Gulch, and Sixmile creeks.

What is Kenai Fjords National Park known for?

Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the most popular of Alaska’s national parks and provides both leisurely and adventurous activities for visitors, including boat tours, kayaking, camping, public use cabins, fishing, beach combing, biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ranger programs, flightseeing, and …

Where should I stay when visiting Kenai Fjords?

Stay in Kenai Fjords National Park’s best hotels!

• Spruce Lodge. Hotel in Seward.
• Hotel Seward. Hotel in Seward.
• Harbor 360 Hotel Seward. Hotel in Seward.
• Gateway Hotel. Hotel in Seward.
• Best Western Plus Edgewater Hotel. Hotel in Seward.
• Steller Inn. Seward.
• Resurrection Lodge on the Bay. Seward.
• Bell In The Woods B&B. Seward.

What animals live in Seward Alaska?

Many species can even be spotted from town, including Steller sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, humpback whales, bald eagles, seabirds, and more. Of course, your chances of seeing wildlife increase the further you travel into Kenai Fjords.

What is special about Kenai Fjords National Park?

Kenai Fjords National Park was established as a national monument in 1978. It became a national park in 1980 to preserve the fjord and rainforest ecosystems, Harding Icefield, abundant wildlife, and historical and archeological remains.

Can anyone Mine gold Alaska?

Recreational gold panning and prospecting are permitted, with some restrictions, on most public lands in Alaska. On private lands or mining claims, the owner’s permission is needed to mine even if you are just gold panning. Alaska Native villages and corporation lands are private.

Are there glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park?

Kenai Fjords National Park is a land dominated by glaciers, massive rivers of ice that flow out from the Harding Icefield. Today, nearly 51 percent of the park is covered by ice.

What kind of rock is found in the Kenai Fjords?

Mud, transformed by heat and pressure, becomes shale, a fine-grained, dark-colored stone with many thin layers. With more time and more pressure, the shale becomes slate. If there is sand mixed with the original mud, it may become greywacke instead. These softer layers crumble into the sea more rapidly than basalt.

When was the Kenai Fjords National Park proposed?

The earliest proposals for a national park at the Kenai Fjords was raised in the 1970s. In 1971 the Seward National Recreation Area was proposed for the area between the head of Resurrection Bay and Turnagain Arm, extending east to Whittier and west to Exit Glacier.

How long does it take for ice to form in Kenai Fjords?

As the snow degrades and compacts, it passes through stages defined by air content: firn is 50 percent air, névé is 20-30 percent air, and eventually glacial ice is less than 20 percent air. In Kenai Fjords, the entire process takes about 4-10 years. Dense and heavy glacier ice begins to flow downhill.