Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 290 miles SW of Anchorage
National Monument - 1918
National Park - 1980
4.1 million acres (3.7 million in National Park)
1999 visitors - 51 thousand
FY 2000 budget - $2.1 million
Access by boat or air only
1 campground, 1 lodge (private); both at Brooks Camp and both June-
Sept only
Setting:
Volcanoes, brown bears, fish, glaciers
Focus of visitors is Brooks River (bear viewing platform at Brooks
Camp) and Coast
National Historic Landmark - highest concentration of pre-historic
Human dwellings (~900) in U.S.
Volcanoes:
At least 14 active volcanoes in Katmai N.P. (None currently
erupting)
Novarupta - 1912 explosive eruption (largest of 20th century in
United States)
Pyroclastic debris over 3000 square miles
Cause of National Monument Status
Nuee Ardente - 40 square miles of ash 100-700 feet thick
"Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes"
Mt. Katmai - volcano connected to Novarupta via same magma
chamber
collapsed to form a caldera (and crater lake) as result of
Novarupta explosion
Numerous active fumeroles and steam vents from other volcanoes
eruptions of ash/steam/lava 1951, 1953-68, 1974
Active Glaciers:
Alpine Glaciers
Largest is Serpent Tongue Glacier
Others covered and insulated by ash
Drift, lakes, marshes
Geologic History:
Subduction of Pacific Plate under North America Plate
Terranes of Mesozoic Age
Island Arc volcanic rocks and associated sediments with
granitic intrusions
Continued volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, glaciation