Denali+National+Park

Denali National Park​ Pull on your wool socks and put on your tuque because you are going to the Last Frontier. In the middle of Alaska lies one of the biggest national parks in the United States. This picturesque park changes colors all year round. No matter if you go in the winter or spring you are sure to see something spectacular. Denali National Park is a place you will never forget.

**What types of animals live in Denali National Park?** Denali National Park is home to 217 species of animals. “There are 39 species of mammals, 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish, and one species of amphibian known in Denali” (Denali). All of the mammals and fish live in Denali year-round. Eighteen of the 167 types of birds also stay in the park all year (Denali). Other animals including caribou migrate through out the year. A bird called the Arctic Tern migrates 20,000 miles away to Antarctica each year (Goodman). Denali is famous for their caribou, eagles, wolves, moose, and grizzly bears (Denali). It is a good thing that the park is over 6.2 million acres (Becker) because a single wolf pack’s territory can be over 150 square miles. Surprisingly the tundra has more mosquitoes than anywhere else on Earth. In only a week a caribou can lose a quart of blood due to these annoying insects (Goodman). No matter where you look, you are sure to see an animal.

**What types of plants survive in Denali National Park?** With the parks cold winters and short summers you might be surprised to find any plants in the park at all. There are over 1,500 types of plants, mosses, and lichens in the park. There are over 650 types of flowering plants that blanket the hills of Denali National Park. These plants have to be tough. They are adapted to long, harsh winters and short growing seasons in the parks subarctic wilderness (Denali).

**What happens at Denali National Park in the spring and summer?** After a long winter, Denali National Park wakes up in the spring by bringing back 80% of the parks birds and hibernating animals (Denali). Spring is a time for growth and baby caribou are born in late May (Goodman). Summer gives the young offspring time to grow and play (Denali). Food is plentiful and easy to find (Goodman). In late summer king and chum salmon float through the streams (Denali). Life for the animals is easy and enjoyable to watch.

**What happens at Denali National Park in the fall and winter?** As summer turns into fall animals prepare for winter. Migrating birds take off for distant destinations. Moose and other animals get ready for mating season (Denali). Grizzly bears prepare to sleep away the winter by eating 20 hours a day. They pack on 40 pounds a week to stay warm in the winter. During the winter, there is less than 5 hours of sun each day. The temperature is often 50 degrees below zero. Bears hibernate in their warm caves while moose and wolves spend the short hours of sunlight scavenging for the rare food (Goodman). Winter is the longest and toughest season in the park (Denali).

Denali National Park is a great place for a wilderness vacation. The vast park is over 6.2 million acres (Becker). One of the most well known tourist destinations is Mt. McKinley. It is 20,320 feet tall and is the tallest mountain in North America. The Alaska Mountain Range is 600-miles long and runs through the park (Denali). You can get a 7-day entrance permit for $10 per person or $20 per vehicle. Although the park is open year round most people visit the park between mid-May and mid-September (Becker).
 * What else should I know about Denali National Park? **


 * Works Cited**

• Becker, Joshua. "Eielson LEEDs by example." Legacy Magazine 19.6 (2008): 22+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 9 Apr. 2010. • Denali National Park and Preserves. National Parks Service, 16 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. <[|www.nps.gov/dena]>. • Goodman, Susan. "Animals of Denali: Denali National Park in Alaska is a harsh land. It's too cold for most people. But for many plants and animals, Denali is a paradise." National Geographic Explorer Jan.-Feb. 2004: 16+. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 7 Apr. 2010.


 * Pictures **
 * [|Bull moose looking for the cow moose] by Alaskan Dude.
 * [|Up close and personal with a grizzly bear in Denali National Park, Alaska] by Alaskan Dude.
 * [|Fall foliage along the Glenn Highway NE of Anchorage, AK] by Alaskan Dude.