Katmai Wilderness

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Katmai Wilderness
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)

Location	Alaska, USA
Coordinates	58°34′″N 154°44′″W / <span class="geo-dec geo" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for Expression error: Unexpected / operator Expression error: Unexpected / operator">Expression error: Unexpected / operator, Expression error: Unexpected / operator
Area	3,384,358 acres (13,696 km²)
Established	1980
Governing body	National Park Service

Katmai Wilderness is a wilderness area in Alaska, United States. It is part of the Katmai National Park and Preserve. Today 15 active volcanoes line Shelikof Strait, which separates Katmai National Park and Preserve from Kodiak Island. Katmai protects this volcanic "laboratory" and, equally important, large numbers of brown bears. (Although brown and grizzly bears are considered the same species, grizzlies live at least 100 miles from shore and don't grow to be as huge, due to a more limited diet.) Salmon spawn in Katmai in vast numbers, attracting the bears. Here you'll find huge lakes whose edges provide nesting spots for swans, ducks, loons, and grebes. The area is shared by moose and caribou and numerous smaller mammals. A campground exists inside the park, and preregistration is required. The campground has water, pit toilets, food-storage caches, fire pits (but firewood is limited), and picnic tables. Meals are available at nearby Brooks Lodge. Most of Katmai National Park has been designated Wilderness, and very little of it is ever seen by human eyes.