Lake Clark Wilderness
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Lake Clark Wilderness | |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
Location | Alaska, USA |
Coordinates | |
Area | 2,619,550 acres (10,601 km²) |
Established | 1980 |
Governing body | National Park Service |
Lake Clark Wilderness is a wilderness area in Alaska, United States. It is part of the Lake Clark National Park.
In the Lake Clark Wilderness the Aleutian Range meets the Alaska Range in the Chigmit Mountains, an area known as Alaska's Alps. The mighty rain forest along Cook Inlet rises to alpine tundra and sparkling lakes sheltered by mountain fastnesses. Drainages plunge thunderously down hundreds of waterfalls. Vast numbers of moose, brown and black bears, wolves, wolverines, red foxes, Dall sheep, and caribou make their home here. Slender and 50 miles (80 km) long, Lake Clark itself reflects tall ragged spires of rock, and salmon and trout run in great numbers. Originally a national monument, Lake Clark's status was changed to National Park and Preserve in 1980, and about two-thirds was designated Wilderness.