Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
Encyclopedia
Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve is a U.S. National Monument
and National Preserve
, consisting of the region around the Aniakchak
volcano
on the Aleutian Range
of south-western Alaska
.
The area was proclaimed a national monument on December 1, 1978, and established as a national monument and preserve on December 2, 1980. The national monument is 137,176 federal acres (555 km²) and the preserve is 465,603 acres (1,884 km²) of which 439,863 acres are federal. The area is maintained by the National Park Service
. With only 285 documented recreational visits in 2004, this remote place is perhaps the least visited unit of the National Park System. Most visitors fly into the area, but the frequent fog and other adverse weather conditions make landing difficult.
The Aniakchak region is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire
, and the national monument consists of the caldera
around Mount Aniakchak, with notable examples of several volcanic features – such as lava flows and cinder cone
s. Surprise Lake, located within the caldera, is the source of the Aniakchak River
, a National Wild and Scenic River
. The Aniakchak Bay Historic Landscape District surrounds the Aniakchak River from Aniakchak Crater to Aniakchak Bay and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on February 14, 1997.
U.S. National Monument
A National Monument in the United States is a protected area that is similar to a National Park except that the President of the United States can quickly declare an area of the United States to be a National Monument without the approval of Congress. National monuments receive less funding and...
and National Preserve
National preserve
National Preserve is a designation applied by the United States Congress to protected areas that have characteristics normally associated with U.S. National Parks but where certain activities not allowed in National Parks are permitted. These activities include public hunting, trapping, and oil...
, consisting of the region around the Aniakchak
Mount Aniakchak
Mount Aniakchak is a 3,700 year old volcanic caldera located in the Aleutian Range of Alaska, United States. The area around the volcano is the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, maintained by the National Park Service...
volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
on the Aleutian Range
Aleutian Range
The Aleutian Range is a major mountain range of southwest Alaska, extending from Chakachamna Lake to Unimak Island, at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. It includes all of the mountains of the Peninsula. It is especially notable for its large number of active volcanoes, which are also part of the...
of south-western Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
The area was proclaimed a national monument on December 1, 1978, and established as a national monument and preserve on December 2, 1980. The national monument is 137,176 federal acres (555 km²) and the preserve is 465,603 acres (1,884 km²) of which 439,863 acres are federal. The area is maintained by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. With only 285 documented recreational visits in 2004, this remote place is perhaps the least visited unit of the National Park System. Most visitors fly into the area, but the frequent fog and other adverse weather conditions make landing difficult.
The Aniakchak region is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire
Pacific Ring of Fire
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. In a horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements...
, and the national monument consists of the caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
around Mount Aniakchak, with notable examples of several volcanic features – such as lava flows and cinder cone
Cinder cone
According to the , Cinder Cone is the proper name of 1 cinder cone in Canada and 7 cinder cones in the United States:In Canada: Cinder Cone In the United States:...
s. Surprise Lake, located within the caldera, is the source of the Aniakchak River
Aniakchak River
The Aniakchak River is a river in Lake and Peninsula Borough on the Alaska Peninsula. It arises in Surprise Lake in the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve and flows eastward into Aniakchak Bay and the Pacific Ocean....
, a National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
. The Aniakchak Bay Historic Landscape District surrounds the Aniakchak River from Aniakchak Crater to Aniakchak Bay and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 14, 1997.