List of National Natural Landmarks in Alaska

The National Natural Landmarks in Alaska include 16 of the almost 600 National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) in the United States. They cover areas of geological and biological importance, and include craters, volcanoes, glaciers, lakes, islands and habitats for several rare species. The first set of five designations was made in 1967, while the most recent were made when two new sites were designated in 1976.[1] Six landmarks are found within the Unorganized Borough, while the rest are located in organized boroughs; Aleutians East Borough holds the most, with four. Natural Landmarks in Alaska range from 170 to 1,800,000 acres (69 to 728,434 ha; 0.27 to 2,812.50 sq mi) in size. Owners include private individuals and several state and federal agencies.[2]

The Redoubt Volcano was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976, and erupted in 1990.

The National Natural Landmarks Program is administered by the National Park Service, a branch of the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service determines which properties meet NNL criteria and, after notifying the owners, makes nomination recommendations. The Secretary of the Interior reviews nominations and, based on a set of predetermined criteria, makes a decision on NNL designation or a determination of eligibility for designation. Both public and privately owned properties can be designated as NNLs. Owners may object to the nomination of the property as a NNL.[3] This designation provides indirect, partial protection of the historic integrity of the properties via tax incentives, grants, monitoring of threats, and other means.[4]

Alaska National Natural Landmarks (clickable map)

National Natural Landmarks
Name Image Date Location Borough Ownership Description[1]
Aniakchak Crater 1967 56.905833°N 158.208889°W / 56.905833; -158.208889 (Aniakchak Crater) Lake and Peninsula Borough Federal Part of the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve and containing Surprise Lake, this volcanic caldera last erupted in 1931 and is one of the world's largest explosive craters.
Arrigetch Peaks 1968 67.416667°N 154.183333°W / 67.416667; -154.183333 (Arrigetch Peaks) Unorganized Borough Federal Located in Gates of the Arctic National Park, granite peaks tower above glacial valleys of tundra and boreal forest, demonstrating abrupt rock type transitions from metamorphic to granitic.
Bogoslof Island 1967 53.927222°N 168.034444°W / 53.927222; -168.034444 Unorganized Borough Federal A volcanic island with new eruptions as recently as 1992, Bogoslof provides habitat for endangered Steller sea lions and several bird species. A unit of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range 1968 61.000556°N 163.000556°W / 61.000556; -163.000556 Unorganized Borough Federal, state, private A coastal and upland tundra habitat of lakes, streams and tide flats, forming the nesting grounds for several species of birds, including black brant, cackling and emperor geese.
Iliamna Volcano 1976 60.033333°N 153.066667°W / 60.033333; -153.066667 Kenai Peninsula Borough Federal Active stratovolcano with a 10,016-foot (3,053 m) summit and at least 10 glaciers. A part of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.
Lake George 1967 61.25°N 148.616667°W / 61.25; -148.616667 Unorganized Borough Federal, state, private At the time of its designation, Lake George, dammed by the Knik Glacier, was the largest glacier-dammed lake in North America.
Malaspina Glacier 1968 59.919167°N 140.532778°W / 59.919167; -140.532778 Yakutat City and Borough Federal, state, private Noted by explorers for over two centuries, Malaspina is the largest piedmont glacier in North America, and one of the largest worldwide, outside of ice-cap regions. Mostly located within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary 1968 59.016667°N 154.466667°W / 59.016667; -154.466667 Kenai Peninsula Borough State Permanent sanctuary for brown bears and other animal populations. Concentration of bears fishing in the McNeil River provides excellent opportunities for viewing.
Mount Veniaminof 1967 56.198056°N 159.390833°W / 56.198056; -159.390833 Aleutians East Borough Federal Located in Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, Veniaminof contains a cupped ice field of 25 square miles (64.75 km2), the most extensive crater-glacier in the US, and an active volcanic vent. The glacial vent is the only such one in North America.
Redoubt Volcano 1976 60.485278°N 152.743056°W / 60.485278; -152.743056 Kenai Peninsula Borough Federal An active stratovolcano located in Lake Clark National Park. Of 76 major volcanoes in the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands, Redoubt is the second tallest.
Shishaldin Volcano 1967 54.755833°N 163.9675°W / 54.755833; -163.9675 Aleutians East Borough Federal Located in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Shishaldin is an explosive stratovolcano with a near perfect cone. It is the tallest volcano in Unimak Island.
Simeonof National Wildlife Refuge 1968 54.89479124°N 159.273751°W / 54.89479124; -159.273751 Aleutians East Borough Federal Provides habitat for numerous mammal and bird species, as well as providing ideal habitat and hauling grounds for sea otters.
Unga Island 1968 55.260556°N 160.695°W / 55.260556; -160.695 Aleutians East Borough State, private Part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Unga holds the petrified remains of a sequoia or metasequoia forest buried by Tertiary Period volcanic activity. The forest remnants provide evidence of the environment and climate of Alaska before humans reached the area.
Walker Lake 1968 67.126667°N 154.363056°W / 67.126667; -154.363056 Northwest Arctic Borough Federal, state, private An example of a mountain lake at the northern limit of forest growth, demonstrating an ecological range from white spruce to talus slopes, devoid of growth, rising 2,000 feet (610 m) above the lake.
Walrus Islands 1968 57.182617°N 169.946822°W / 57.182617; -169.946822 Unorganized Borough State The only significant bull walrus haul-out in the US and the southernmost primary area in the world. Seven islands make up the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary.
Worthington Glacier 1968 61.170278°N 145.763333°W / 61.170278; -145.763333 Unorganized Borough State One of the most road-accessible glaciers in Alaska, showing examples of major glacial features ranging from terminal moraines to accumulation zones.

References
General
  • "National Registry of Natural Landmarks" (PDF). National Park Service. June 2009. pp. 3–5. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
Specific
  1. "National Registry of Natural Landmarks" (PDF). National Park Service. June 2009. pp. Introduction, 3–5. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  2. "Alaska". National Park Service. June 28, 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  3. "36 CFR Part 62: National Natural Landmarks Program, Final Rule" (PDF). Federal Register. May 12, 1999. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  4. "Frequently Asked Questions". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
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