NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska
Contact Information For more information about the Kenai Fjords National Park Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or (907) 422-0500 or write to: Superintendent, Kenai Fjords National Park, P.O. Box 1727, Seward, AK 99664 Significance and Purpose Fundamental Resources and Values
Significance statementsexpress why Kenai Fjords National Park resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit.
Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or other attributes determined to merit primary consideration during planning and management processes because they are essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining its significance.
Icefields and Glaciers:Kenai Fjords National Park protects the Harding Icefield and its outflowing glaciers, where the maritime climate and mountainous topography result in the formation and persistence of glacier ice. The purpose of Kenai Fjords National Park • Icefields is to preserve the scenic and environmental • Climate Processes integrity of an interconnected icefield, glacier, • Exit Glacier and coastal fjord ecosystem. • Science & Education
Fjords: Kenai Fjords National Park protects wild and scenic fjords that open to the Gulf of Alaska where rich currents meet glacial outwash to sustain an abundance of marine life. • Marine Ecosystems • Forest Ecosystems • Wildness • Shared Stewardship • Scenery Fundamental Resources and Values
Geologic Processes: Kenai Fjords National Park protects an outstanding example of a subsiding coastal mountain range with steep-sided fjords, drowned cirques, and jagged islands. • Physical Record • Geologic Study • Interpretation/Education
Wildlife: Kenai Fjords National Park protects a rich diversity of terrestrial and marine life in their natural state. • Terrestrial Wildlife • Marine Mammals • Birds • Wildlife Viewing • Scientific Research and Monitoring • Partnerships/Interagency Cooperation
Human Experience: Kenai Fjords National Park provides opportunities to experience, understand, and appreciate the scenic and wild values of the Harding Icefields, its outflowing glaciers, coastal fjords, and wildlife and to comprehend environmental change in a human context. • Archeological and Historic Resources • Native Values • Collections • Research • Partnerships • Access • Recreational Opportunities • Interpretation/Education Description
The Kenai Fjords National Park was established on of the Harding Icefield Trail or scenic overflight gives you a December 2, 1980, under the Alaska National Interest Lands window to past ice ages. At Exit Glacier you can stroll the trails, Conservation Act (ANILCA) to preserve in perpetuity unique take a ranger-led walk, and get close enough to hear the creaks fjord and rainforest ecosystems, the vast Harding Icefield, rich and groans of an active glacier as it slowly sculpts the landscape. and varied marine and terrestrial wildlife, and historical and Although much of the park is rugged wilderness, there are archeological reminders of the native peoples of the Alaska ways to explore for all interests and abilities. Boat tours depart coast. In addition, Kenai Fjords National Park also provides Seward’s small boat harbor daily in the summer months. Several for visitor enjoyment and access to the coastal fjords, Exit companies provide a variety of tour options, schedules, and Glacier, and the Harding Icefield in a manner that maintains amenities. Full-day tours that venture out to the park’s tidewater them unimpaired for future generations. glaciers are available as well as half-day tours that stay in the more protected waters of Resurrection Bay while giving you a Sweeping from rocky coastline to glacier-crowned peaks, taste of the park’s wildlife and scenery. Kenai Fjords National Park is located on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, 128 miles southwest of Anchorage. The park is The park’s headquarters and information center are located in accessible by car, bus, train, boat, and plane. Kenai Fjords is the town of Seward, Alaska. The Exit Glacier area is accessible by approximately 601,839 acres including 545 miles of coastline, road, approximately 12 miles from Seward. Additional access to rugged and glaciated mountains, numerous glaciers, fjords, the park is by small plane or by one of the many commercial tour and bays, and abundant terrestrial and marine wildlife. and charter boats that ply the coast along Kenai Fjords. Most of these boats operate out of Seward. Kenai Fjords National Park encompasses a coastal mountain system on the southeastern side of the Kenai Peninsula. A 300-square-mile, nearly flat icefield overlies all but the tops of the central o nc ora e r ildli e e u e oundar r r c r rimro t e io n ld Cr u rai i o in r portion of the Kenai Mountains. The ra 9 akes i 444 ft k ek 1 55m ree Paradise re Ca in Peak n i ost a m ja e ake n k s e e ount re u r r in scension i e r t c e r a a 5710ft Harding lcefield, Kenai Fjords crowning l P c 1741m t
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re - 4ft ek ranite -254m ND ildli e e u e oundar ce orm Peak -750ft sland N 5 00ft K asniko -229m A ASKA A torm ountain a Falls t r 1767m 79 ft o urok Point r k atus ka NA ONA F F a 1156m ranite to nurture a life entwined with the sea. a Desire o sland r N m a e K ake rm c a i ilot ar or ali K e P ames loud u r NATIVE one ock t ountain a oon r m eek CORPORATION u 1 10ft l r n KA AK BA d 552m Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to e Deli t r u S A PA K t ake a r o e a N K NA NA ONA u NATIVE t oss CORPORATION lack ountain F F a Point c art a oon 202 ft the effects of our changing climate. eal ocks K lack 61 m
4540ft NATIVE uart a a 1 4m CORPORATION npaved road n ra i an co r oonli a arnin ati Cor oration an t a N e o not use this map for Private lands owned b ce and snow s rail navigation or backpacking. Port raham orporation, N t Barren K a se nautical charts and tide labeled Native orpora- se ri r tables for navigation. tion, ma be accessed onl istoric extent of ow vegetation u oa rin o e tee Point r opographic maps and on public easements or glaciation D m ottonwood, alder, willow area information are with special use permits Kenai Fjords National Park has available at the visitor issued b the village. heck ampground Spruce, hemlock ass alik P center. with the park for detailed a N F ur -762ft rt maps of boundaries and anding camping -10 2ft c -2 2m easement locations before beach - 15m venturing into the fjords. P Park oundar a ed P ND North something for everyone. Whether you 0 5 Kilometers KA AK BA KA AK BA Nuka sland A ASKA A S A N SS PA K S A PA K a NA ONA F F 0 5 iles take atour or kayak in a remote fjord, you will be surrounded by pristine scenery and abundant wildlife. A hike to the top