Famous Landforms in Alaska | USA Today
Famous Landforms in Alaska
Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain in the United States.
(Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )
Plants and Animals in Alaska
Alaska isn't only the largest state in the nation, but also the most northern, western and eastern state---the Aleutian Island chain stretches so far west it crosses into the Eastern Hemisphere. The topography of Alaska harbors overwhelming diversity. This ruggedly beautiful state is home to high, jagged mountain peaks abutted by glaciers, active volcanoes, barren tundra and vast swaths of boreal forests, making it a favorite tourist destination, in spite of its remoteness.
Mountains
Numerous mountain ranges crisscross the Alaskan landscape. Located entirely above the Arctic Circle, the Brooks Range is the northernmost mountain range in Alaska. Oriented in a west-to-east direction, the Brooks Range stretches for 720 miles, from the state's west coast to the Canadian border. The Alaska Range arcs through south-central and southeastern Alaska. Mt. McKinley, the highest point in North America at 20,320 feet, lies in the Alaska Range. South of the Alaska Range, the Chugach Mountains contain the largest concentration of glaciers in the state. The St. Elias Mountains begin at the edge of mainland Alaska and stretch southeast into the panhandle and Canada. As the highest coastal range in the world, much of this area is uninhabitable. Other Alaskan mountain ranges include the Wrangell Mountains, Coast Mountains, Kenai Mountains and Kuskokwim Mountains. Most travelers access Alaska's mountains through its national parks, especially Denali and Glacier Bay.
North Slope
Alaska's North Slope occupies the northernmost fifth of the state, bounded by the Brooks Range to its south and the Arctic Ocean to its north. This flat, treeless tundra is technically a desert, receiving approximately 5 inches of precipitation per year. Most precipitation reaching the ground simply freezes, and is slow to evaporate due to the frigid temperatures. This results in a surface that remains frozen most of the year, known as permafrost. Only a small portion of the ground thaws during the short Arctic summer, at which time melt water and runoff collects in shallow pools and ponds, eventually meandering its way northward into Arctic Ocean. Grasses and wildflowers proliferate on the North Slope during this time of year. The North Slope doesn't receive a lot of visitors, although small cruises to view polar bears are gaining in popularity.
Volcanoes and the Aleutian Islands
Lying along the Pacific's Ring of Fire, Alaska is home to 80 percent of all active volcanoes in the United States. More than 100 volcanoes are located here, about 40 of which are considered active. Most of the state's volcanoes lie in the Aleutian Islands, a 1,500-mile-long chain of islands extending west from mainland Alaska across the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean to Russia. Major eruptions occur in the Aleutians every year, but often don't make headlines due to the region's sparse population. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the world's biggest eruption of the 20th century occurred in Alaska in 1912 at Novarupta Volcano, in the area where the Alaskan mainland begins to recede into the Aleutian chain. The Alaska Wilderness & Recreation Tourism Association (visitwildalaska.com/Southwest_Alaska) has information on vacationing in the Aleutian Islands; fishing, hiking and bird- and wildlife-watching are just a few activities available in this sparsely-populated region of the state.
Inside Passage
Opposite the Aleutian Islands in the panhandle of southeastern Alaska, an estimated 1,000 islands dot the shoreline of the Inside Passage. This naturally-sheltered marine highway extends southward through British Columbia all the way to Seattle. Coves, bays, channels and straits protect it from Pacific storms, making it the preferred route for cruise ships traveling from the west coast of the United States to Alaska.
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