Record was 346,852 visitors in 2011 See separate review for details. km (735 sq. Visitors can walk around the bottom of Exit Glacier and learn about climate change in the nature center. It was put on hold after the Watergate Scandal, and finally made official by Jimmy Carter in 1978. Most people visit Kenai Fjords National Park to explore the Exit Glacier. We have sections on Weather, Getting to the Park, Lodging, Camping, and a page to buy Books. Truuli, There is no entrance fee for Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park lies in the Alaska time zone. The Harding Icefield is the largest feature within Kenai Fjords National Park, and is the largest icefield contained entir ely within the boundaries of the United States. Immersive activities: cross-country skiing, dog sledding, mountain climbing, kayaking and hikes led by the local rangers. Continue on AK-9 to Seward. Young foundations: the park was established in 1980 and now covers an area of over 2,500km2. This page includes a description of Kenai Fjords National Park. The Kenai Fjords is home to sea lions, otters, and seals, as well as tens of thousands of birds. Action. In 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil spill resulted in extensive damage to the coastline of Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one cool park with some awesome facts! Kenai Fjords National Park is a 669,984 acre park located in Alaska in the United States. Seward overnight lodging options. Inc. 1912. No crampons or ice axes are needed during the summer hiking months. Federal Land – 601,839.20 Non-Federal Land – 68,143.79 Gross Area Acres – 669,982.99. The park contains the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States. Exit Glacier 1 / 5. Kenai Fjords National Park is a 669,984 acre park located in Alaska in the United States. In 1978, United States President Jimmy Carter designated Kenai Fjords as a national monument. Oil can still be found on the coastline today. The beauty of Kenai is something both parties helped preserve! Before we launch into the Kenai Fjords boat tour info, we thought it’d be helpful to cover some basic facts about the park. The field is the source of at least 38 glaciers, th… Despite the region not having much evidence of a lot of long term residences, some villages have been discovered that dated between 1200 AD and 1920 and few were occupied for hundreds of years. The park is famous for the fjords it contains, which are valleys that were created by glaciers that are now below sea level. Choose from the menu above the map, or from right here. Simkins – August 24, 2020 | … Kenai Fjords National Park is located along the southern coast of Alaska, where the land meets the Gulf of Alaska. In 1982 when the park was only two years old it had only 16,118 visitors. It will become AK-9 around mile 35 (87 miles/140 kilometers from Anchorage), with AK-1 heading to Homer and Kenai. 2. 11. The Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster in 1989 in Prince William Sound had a large effect on Kenai Fjords. Continued use of this site indicates your acceptance. The park includes the Kenai Fjords has a large variety of birds, especially along the coastal areas. Logos and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. 1. 12. It was one of our favorite national parks from our trip to visit all of them in 2017. Google Arts & Culture. Spent 3 nights at Kenai Fjords National Park. The park is named for the numerous fjordscarved by glaciers moving down the mountains from the ice field. This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Sheetz. RELATED ACTIVITIES. Kenai Fjords National Park presents opportunity for rugged adventure in a land where snow-capped mountains send forth massive miles-thick glaciers that meet the sea in the beautiful yet unforgiving waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Kenai Fjords National Park outside Seward, Alaska. Kenai Fjords National Park has a history of conducting and supporting research and monitoring of black oystercatchers and has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge of their life history. Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, which adjoins Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Kenai Fjords National Park is seriously stunning. Mammals that can be found in Kenai Fjords National Park include wolves, brown bears, black bears, Alaskan moose, porcupines, Canadian lynx, mountain goats, coyotes, river otters, and beavers. In 1980 it was re-designated as Kenai Fjords National Park, following the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act passing. Humpback whales spend from mid-April until November feeding around Kenai Fjords National Park. Visiting Kenai Fjords. Rocky fjords and peninsulas define the coastline of this park. Kenai Fjords National Park Facts: Size: 669,982 acres, ranked 17th; Visitors: 303,598 in 2017, ranked 46th. It's a big world up there in Alaska! Each day a humpback eats approximately a ton of food. Explore glaciers and marine wildlife on Kenai Fjords National Park cruise from Seward. On November 16, 1978, Kenai Fjords National Monument was created along with 15 others. Acreage – as of September 23, 2000. You can also see otters and seals in the lagoon. Google Arts & Culture. Prior to being established as a park few people lived in the area, and it is believed that populations in the region were fairly non-permanent due to the sea levels changing and earthquakes in the area. Proclaimed a national monument in 1978, it became a national park in 1980. Kenai Fjords National Park is a vast, jagged wilderness, carved into existence by ancient icefields and the passage of time. The preservation of the Harding Icefield and the Kenai Fjords as a National Monument was started by the Nixon administration in 1973. Take a virtual tour through Kenai Fjords National Park. ... Kenai Fjords. Kenai Fjords is located about 2.5 hours drive south of Anchorage, in the coastal fishing town of Seward, Alaska. As with all of the Alaskan national parks, the vast majority of the park lands are remote and undeveloped wilderness. On November 16, 1978, Kenai Fjords National Monument was created along with 15 others. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hello Rangers! Kenai Fjords National Park, close to Seward in southern Alaska, gives visitors a glimpse of the rough landscape carved by receding glaciers. Many other creatures like bears, porpoises,and whales, also roam throughout the park on the land and in the sea. 1,903 sq. (2000) 2,830; (2010) 2,693. The prey catches on the … Exit Glacier is a glacier derived from the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska and one of Kenai Fjords National Park's major attractions. Its area is 1,047 square miles (2,712 square km). There are a couple short (but steep) trails that go up to a viewpoint of the Exit Glacier, or visitors can hike the 8.2-mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail. There are no modern lodging options within the park itself. ... Next park. Pop. Political scandal resulted in the park's establishment being delayed until 1978. Kenai National Park is the smallest national park in Alaska; and larger than 42 of the 59 national park in the entire National Park System. More than half of Kenai Fjords is obscured by it, and glaciers are one of Alaska’s coolest natural attractions. Action. With the nearby town of Seward being accessible by train, boat, car, bus or float plane, the area around Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the most accessible in Alaska. Orca whales, fin whales, minke whales, humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and Dall's porpoises can be found in the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. J.D. Staying in or near Kenai Fjords. Hawai'i Volcanoes. They are available at the Exit Glacier Nature Center.Kids and their families can use it to explore their artistic or scientific side while visiting the park. In Kenai Fjords National Park, both tufted puffins and horned puffins arrive each spring to breed in the rookery island. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to Kenai Fjords. The name 'Kenai' originated from the word 'kena' which means 'open area with few trees, flat, meadow'. The park is popular with bird watchers. It is approximately . While their colorful beaks give them a statuesque presence, horned puffins are generally only 15 inches (38 cm) tall, while tufted puffins are a … 3. Gorgeous blue-green crystal-like icy fjords that … Continue reading → The land in the park is always changing. Kenai Fjords is named after the fjords is contains. mi). Kenai Fjords National Park is a uniquely wild place and definitely a must-visit destination in Alaska. The area of the icefield and its outflowing glaciers as of 2005 was . The city of Seward is the traditional gateway to the park and has all needed services, lodging included. From Boat Tours to … The park is famous for the fjords it contains, which are valleys that were created by glaciers that are now below sea level. Kenai Fjords National Park, rugged wilderness area in southern Alaska, U.S., on the southern coast of Kenai Peninsula just west and southwest of Seward. On December 2, 1980, the monument was changed to a national park, along with all other Alaskan national parks, by the Alaska Native Interests Land Conservation Act. Kenai Fjords National Park covers a total area of 699,983 acres, The number of people visiting Kenai Fjords in 2019 was 356,601 (, Kenai Fjords was made a national park on 270,666, The lowest elevation found in Kenai Fjords is 0 feet at the Pacific Ocean, The highest elevation found in Kenai Fjords is 6,612 feet on Mt. Tinier than you think. Using its tongue, the animal pushes the water out through up to 400 two-foot long baleen plates hanging down from each side of its upper jaw. We began long term monitoring of black oystercatcher in 2007. Kenai Fjords National Park Quick Facts. Easily accessible by road from Anchorage, Kenai Fjords National Park attracts all sorts of outdoors enthusiasts, including kayakers and hikers. Interest in protecting Kenai Fjords began in the 1970s. Put it on ice: Kenai Fjords National Park claims more than just fjords among its features. Total Recreation Visits – 290,673. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. It is one of the most accessible valley glaciers in Alaska and is a visible indicator of glacial recession due to climate change. Birds that can be found living in Kenai Fjords National Park include marbled Murrelets, thick-billed murres, horned puffins, tufted puffins, Stellar's jays, peregrine falcons, and black-billed magpies. It also features a beautiful video brought to you by the GoTraveler channel. Kenai Fjords National Park is an American national park established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The park covers an area of 669,984 acres (1,046.9 sq mi; 2,711.3 km ) on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska, near the town of Seward. The park was divided into three regions for management including the wilderness (icefield), back-country (fjords), and front-country (Exit Glacier). Please note it is an embedded video and may contain ads. In fact, Kenai Fjords ended up ranking at number 2 when we rated all the national parks from best to worst!. You could also check out the park’s Photo Gallery. Trees that can be found growing in Kenai Fjords National Park include willows, alders, Sitka spruce, mountain hemlock, and in the alpine region where conditions are more difficult there are shrubs such as devil's club, lady fern, and elderberry. There is no entrance fee for Kenai Fjords National Park; Kenai Fjords National Park lies in the Alaska time zone; Random Facts About Kenai Fjords. Visitors to Kanai Fjords National Park can see the park on boat tours, hiking the trails, kayaking, by road, and visitors can stay in cabins or can camp if they wish to stay for longer than a day. 51% of the land in Kenai Fjords National Park is covered by ice. 4% of the park's 20 miles of coastline was contaminated. A humpback can hold 500 gallons of seawater laden with prey in its mouth. The Oil Spill of Kenai Fjords National Park When the oil tanker, the Exxon Valdez, grounded in 1989 on the 24th of March; it caused a huge contamination of the coastline of Kenai Fjords. In 2012 the number of visitors to Kenai Fjords National Park reached 281,279. Seward is a good sized town offering all services. By car, take Seward Highway (AK-1) south from Anchorage. All photos and written content © 2004-2020 National Parked except as noted. Kenai Fjords National Park: Harding Icefield Trail Get a front row seat of retreating glaciers on this challenging 8-mile out-and-back to the Harding Icefield. It’s a scenic mashup of sky-high peaks, temperate rainforest, pristine inlets and ice—a whole lot of ice. Kenai Fjords National Park is located just outside of Seward in southcentral Alaska, 126 miles (203 kilometers) south of Anchorage. We have pages on all sorts of things about Kenai Fjords National Park. Size and Visitation of Kenai Fjords National Park. National Park Service. Check out an Art for Parks or a Discovery backpack. Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, a stunning landscape of mountains and ocean that boasts one of most diverse ecosystems of all the national parks.From towering tidewater glaciers to pods of orcas and breaching humpback whales, Kenai Fjords National Park is … Basic Info About Kenai Fjords National Park . Today in this video, I will go over ten Fun Facts About Kenai Fjords National Park! Marine mammals that can be found in the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park include sea otters, harbour seals, and sea lions. Nearby is Chugach National Forest. The city of Seward is the closest city of size, being adjacent to the park, and serving as the park’s headquarters. Kenai Fjords. Follow rangers on an immersive 360° journey through the #HiddenWorlds of our National Parks. When feeding, 12 to 36 ventral throat grooves allow a humpback whale’s mouth to swell to enormous proportions. Tours are also available for Hawaii’s Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas. Puffins are particularly popular to look for. We had a beautiful view of the glacier from our cabin porch with two rocking chairs, as well as the dining room and the sitting area in front of the main lodge.I would go out and just sit on the rocker and gaze at the Pedersen lower lagoon, and the glacier. The National Park Service established an oil containment line across the salmon streams; this was completed by April and the head lands were the most affected in the lands also. In 1978, United States President Jimmy Carter designated Kenai Fjords as a national monument. Kenai Fjords National Park - Alaska. When the park was re-designated as a national park improvements began. Visitation – 1999. By Stacey Leasca May 04, 2020 There are not many amphibians or reptiles in Kenai Fjords National Park because of the harsh conditions and colder climate. Many people come here and take the cruises for the sole reason of bird watching. At the time of national monument designation only one ranger was appointed to the care of monument's land. Action. Kenai Fjords National Park is open year-round with the highest visitation May through September. Of Exit Glacier Kathleen Sheetz the # HiddenWorlds of our National parks from to. 51 % of the largest ice fields in the waters of Kenai National! 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