Here are the Wrangell-St Elias fun facts!
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is located in southeastern Alaska and is one of the largest national parks in the United States. It is a place of immense natural beauty, with towering mountains, glaciers, and rivers. The park also has a rich geological history that spans hundreds of millions of years. In this article, we will explore the geologic history of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
The Formation of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
The geological history of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve begins about 250 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era. At this time, the area that is now the park was part of a massive supercontinent called Pangaea. Over time, the tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s crust began to move, causing Pangaea to break apart. As a result, the land that would become Wrangell-St. Elias was pushed to the north, towards what is now Alaska.
Around 150 million years ago, during the Mesozoic Era, the area that is now Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve was a shallow sea. The sea was home to a variety of marine animals, including ammonites, belemnites, and marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.
About 70 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous Period, the sea that covered the area began to recede, exposing the land. Over time, the exposed land was eroded by wind, water, and ice. The sediment that was eroded from the land was carried away by rivers and deposited in the sea.
The Wrangell Mountains
Around 30 million years ago, during the Tertiary Period, the North American Plate began to collide with the Pacific Plate. This collision caused the land to rise, forming the Wrangell Mountains. The Wrangell Mountains are a range of rugged peaks and valleys that dominate the landscape of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
The Wrangell Mountains are made up of a variety of rocks, including sedimentary, volcanic, and metamorphic rocks. The rocks that make up the mountains were formed over millions of years through a variety of geological processes.
Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone and shale, were formed from the accumulation of sediment that was deposited in ancient seas, lakes, and rivers. These rocks can be found in the lower elevations of the Wrangell Mountains.
Volcanic rocks, such as basalt and andesite, were formed from the eruption of volcanoes. These rocks can be found throughout the Wrangell Mountains, and are evidence of the area’s volcanic past.
Metamorphic rocks, such as schist and gneiss, were formed from the alteration of pre-existing rocks due to heat and pressure. These rocks can be found in the higher elevations of the Wrangell Mountains, and are evidence of the area’s long and complex geological history.
Glaciers
One of the defining features of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is its glaciers. Glaciers are large masses of ice that form over hundreds or thousands of years. They are formed when snow accumulates in a location and is compressed over time.
The glaciers in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve are some of the largest in North America. They cover more than 5,000 square miles and contain more than 60% of Alaska’s glacial ice. The park is home to over 100 named glaciers, including the Malaspina Glacier, which is the largest piedmont glacier in the world.
Glaciers are constantly moving, slowly flowing downhill under their own weight. As they move, they erode the land beneath them,
Guide to Wrangell-St Elias
Wrangell-St Elias Stat Sheet
established: December 2, 1980 as Wrangell-St Elias National Park
monument: November 16, 1978 as Wrangell-St Elias National Monument
rank of admission: 48
size: 13,175,799 acres
rank in size: 1
annual visitation: 2018 – 79,450
rank in visitation: 53
time zone: Alaska Time
park phone: 907 822 5234
Guide to Wrangell-St Elias
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