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General Information
The wilderness that comprises Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a composite of ecosystems representative of many diverse regions throughout Alaska. Covering four million acres, the spectacular scenery stretches from the shores of Cook Inlet, across the Chigmit Mountains, to the tundra covered hills of the western interior. The Chigmits, where the Alaska and Aleutian Ranges meet, are an awesome, jagged array of mountains and glaciers which include two active volcanoes, Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Iliamna. Lake Clark, 50 miles long, and many other lakes and rivers within the park are critical salmon habitat to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, one of the largest sockeye salmon fishing grounds in the world. Numerous lake and river systems in the park and preserve offer excellent fishing and wildlife viewing.
The spectacular scenery of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is unrivaled. The recreational opportunities are varied and plentiful. Although continuously inhabited since early prehistoric times, the area remains wild and sparsely populated, with aircraft providing the primary means of access. Within the park the mountains of Alaska and the Aleutian Ranges join. The Chigmits, an awesome, jagged array of mountains, are the result of centuries of uplifting, intrusion, earthquakes, vulcanism, and glacial action. Two active volcanoes, Iliamna and Redoubt, form an important link in the Pacific chain of fire. Venting steam, snow-capped, and rising more than 10,000 feet (3,050 meters), each is an impressive volcano to be viewed from the eastern side of the park.
The range's eastern flank descends rapidly to Cook Inlet. Rivers cascade dramatically to the sea through the forests of Sitka and white spruce. The coastal cliffs, holding fossil remnant of 150 million years of sea life, are stark counterpoints to active volcanoes and glacial streams that are reshaping landscape. On marshes and outwash plains, swans and other waterfowl nest. The rocky cliffs in and adjacent to the park provide rookeries for puffins, cormorants, kittiwakes, and other seabirds. Seals and whales may occasionally be observed off shore.
The western flank of the Chigmit Mountains descends through tundra-covered foothills to boreal forests. Spectacular lakes and wild rivers fill the valley, flowing southwestward to Bristol Bay. Fish include five species of salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, lake trout, northern pike, and arctic grayling. Dall sheep, caribou, and moose forage the area. Brown and black bear are present, as well as wolves, lynx, foxes, and other mammals.
This western side of the park and preserve provide many recreational opportunities. Anglers find trophy fish; hikers explore high tundra slope; river runners thrill to the Tikakila, Mulchatna, or Chilikadrotna Wild Rivers; and campers find lakeshore sites inspirational.
This vast area also may be very harsh. Planning and preparing for a wilderness experience is critical to the enjoyment of the area in all conditions: wind, rain, snow, and sunshine.
Winter is long, October through April. In some locations the sun does not rise above the peaks for several months. A fresh snow can veil the area majestically, or winter winds may uncover a landscape of subtle brown highlighted by ice-blue frozen lakes. Break-up in spring can immobilize the area, as ice melts and frozen ground turns to mud. Summer is the time the caribou calve, buds turn to leaves, mosquitoes hatch, and salmon spawn. Clouds often cap the Chigmit Mountains and occasionally close the passes to aircraft. Precipitation is about one third less on the west side, but everywhere rain produces a floral display. Fireweed, lupine, blueberry, and bearberry abound. In autumn, the burgundy hued tundra blankets the slopes around aptly named Turquoise Lake. A light dusting of snow over the yellow birch and red bearberry produces a truly visual pleasure.
Fishing
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve offer anglers plenty of opportunities to find trophy fish. An Alaska fishing license is required and state regulations and seasons apply.
The salmon run begins in June. Salmon stop feeding on entering freshwater and physiological changes lead to the distinctive red color, humped back and elongated jaw they develop during spawning. The salmon spawn during August and September. Stream bottoms must have the correct texture of loose gravel for the eggs to develop. The stream must flow freely through winter to aerate the eggs. By spring young fish called smolt, emerge from the gravels and migrate to the larger lakes, living there two years. The salmon then migrate to the sea, returning in two to three years to spawn and begin the cycle again.
Salmon provide food for bears, bald eagles, gulls and other creatures that forage the stream during the annual run. They have also been important to Alaskian people for several thousand years.
Sport fish present are:
Arctic char
Grayling
Dolly Yarden
Northern pike
Lake trout
Rainbow trout
Five species of salmon
Hunting
Sport hunting is allowed in the preserve only. Alaska state license is required and should be purchased prior to departure to the park. Licensed guides and outfitters are available.
Big game animals present include:
Dall sheep
Caribou
Moose
Black and brown bear
River Running
The park contains three designated wild and scenic rivers. A float trip on any one of these rivers in the Lake Clark region, can be spectacular. Most of these rivers have no more than class 3 rapids, but the "sweepers" are a notable hazard.
Star Gazing
Star gazing in Alaska can be very rewarding, if you like the cold. During the summer months the days are long and the nights short. In Lake Clark National Park and Preserve you can not see the stars from late May until mid-August. At this time of year the night have enough light that no stars or only a few of the brightest are visible. North of the Artic Circle the sun does not set from mid-May until mid-August. In the fall and winter the night skies are beautiful. You see more stars than could be imagined. Remember, if you come to Alaska to star gaze you are very far north and the constellations appear a little different in the sky.
Northern Lights
Alaska is a great place to view other lights in the sky, the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Simply put, the northern lights are caused by solar winds carry particles from the sun across space and hit the earth's atmosphere. When the particles hit the earth's atmosphere they release energy in the form of light, the Northern Lights.
Here is a more detailed explanation. The sun has several holes in its corona. Through these holes high energy particles escape with extreme velocity. The particles are thrown out through the solar system, this is solar wind.
The solar wind that meets the daylight side of the earth compressed by the earth's magneto sphere. On the night side it is drawn out into a tail. The solar wind particles are accelerated down to the earth along open magnetic field lines. The open magnetic field lines are only at the polar regions. When the polar wind particles collide with particles in the earth's atmosphere their energy is released in the form of light. The aurora's colors are caused by gasses in the atmosphere. Green comes from oxygen and red from nitrogen.
The best place to see the Northern Lights is around Fairbanks, Alaska, though most of Alaska is a good place. Eastern Canada, Iceland and Northern Scandinavia are also good places to view. Don't worry if you can not get to these areas, with the high activity you might be able to see them from home. During the winter of 2000 the Northern Lights were reportedly viewed from Sarasota, Florida! Between the hours of 10:00 pm to 2:00 am on a clear moonless night, is the best viewing time.
Aurora folklore from Labrador, Greenland, and Northern Norway were used to predict the weather. In Labrador, colored northern lights meant fine weather to come. In Greenland colored aurora predicted strong southerly winds and storms. In Northern Norway they indicated cold weather. As for the rumor that the aurora make crackling noises, there is no evidence.
For more in formation on the northern lights visit the University of Alaska website.
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