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 170acres1800000acres in size. Owners include private individuals and several state and federal agencies.[2]
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]
| Name | Image | Date | Location | Borough | Ownership | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aniakchak Crater | 56.9058°N -158.2089°W | 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 | 67.4167°N -154.1833°W | 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 | 53.9272°N -168.0344°W | 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 | 61.0006°N -163.0006°W | 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 | 60.0333°N -153.0667°W | Kenai Peninsula Borough | Federal | Active stratovolcano with a 10016feet summit and at least 10 glaciers. A part of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. | ||
| Lake George | 61.25°N -148.6167°W | 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 | 59.9192°N -140.5328°W | 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 | 59.0167°N -154.4667°W | 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 | 56.1981°N -159.3908°W | Aleutians East Borough | Federal | Located in Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, Veniaminof contains a cupped ice field of 25sqmi, 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 | 60.4853°N -152.7431°W | 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 | 54.7558°N -163.9675°W | 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 | 54.8948°N -159.2738°W | 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 | 55.2606°N -160.695°W | 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 | 67.1267°N -154.3631°W | 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 2000feet above the lake. | ||
| Walrus Islands | 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 | 61.1703°N -145.7633°W | 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. | ||