Karta River Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Karta River Wilderness is a U. S. wilderness area
, centrally located on Prince of Wales Island. It is 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Hollis, Alaska
just east of the Kasaan Peninsula and may be accessed by a quick 10 minute plane ride or 30-minute boat ride.
The Karta River flows from the Klawock Mountains down through Salmon
and Karta Lakes to the sea. Rich and full of salmon
, this artery carries the lifeblood of the Karta Valley. Attracted by its bounty, the Kaigani Haida of Kasaan fished this river and hunted the forest it supports. Later non-natives came, drawn by the same desires to hunt and fish and they built cabins, roads and mines. Today only a few cabins remain on the shores of the lakes and river so that visitors may stay for a short time and continue to seek out the heartbeat of the wilderness.
The Wilderness is part of Tongass National Forest
.
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
, centrally located on Prince of Wales Island. It is 8 miles (12.9 km) north of Hollis, Alaska
Hollis, Alaska
Hollis is a census-designated place in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 139.-Geography:Hollis is located at ....
just east of the Kasaan Peninsula and may be accessed by a quick 10 minute plane ride or 30-minute boat ride.
The Karta River flows from the Klawock Mountains down through Salmon
Salmon Lake
-References:*...
and Karta Lakes to the sea. Rich and full of salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, this artery carries the lifeblood of the Karta Valley. Attracted by its bounty, the Kaigani Haida of Kasaan fished this river and hunted the forest it supports. Later non-natives came, drawn by the same desires to hunt and fish and they built cabins, roads and mines. Today only a few cabins remain on the shores of the lakes and river so that visitors may stay for a short time and continue to seek out the heartbeat of the wilderness.
The Wilderness is part of Tongass National Forest
Tongass National Forest
The Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States at 17 million acres . Most of its area is part of the temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, itself part of the larger Pacific temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, and is remote enough to be home...
.