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8/3/2019 Niculescu Hrista Octavia, Anul I, RE Grupa B

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TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY OF BRASOV

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURESDEPARTMENS OF ROMANIAN-ENGLISH

Denali National Park

Supervisor: Senior Lecture Ph.D:Oana Andreea PrnuSpecialization: Romanian-English, group B

Student: Niculescu Hrista-Octavia

BRAOV

2010


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SENTENCE OUTLINE

I. Introduction

a. Introduction

Nature is a richness that we dont know how to appreciate. Unfortunately, it doesnt have a

mouth to scream each time we hurt her. We should be aware of all the wonderful things that

nature as to offerto us, one of these wonders beingThe Denali National Park.

b. Paper reasons

I wrote this paper in order to present the wonderful things that The Denali National Parkhas to

offer. I intend to show why for many travelers, The Denali National Parkis the beginning and

the end of their Alaskan adventure.

II. Body

- Mount McKinley

- Flora

- Fauna

- Weather

- Things to do in The Denali National Park

III. Conclusions

TheDenali National Parkis a great place for the ones who want to get away from the crowded life theyhave each day and spend a few days in the wild.

ABSTRACT

This paper represents a description of The Denali National Park, one of the four most visited parks in

Alaska. The name of Denali National Parkcomes from the name that the locals use to refer to Mount McKinley:Denali (the great one). What attracts most visitors to The Denali National Parkare the flora and the fauna, very

rich and varied. The weather is very tricky and unstable, but in the days with clear sky, the highest peak of Alaska,

Mount McKinley can be seen without any problems.

KEY WORDS

-Mount McKinley

-Fauna

-Wildlife

-Weather

-Changes

-Things to do in The Denali National Park


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Mount McKinley

Besides the wildlife, the focal point of the park is North Americas highest peak, Mount

McKinley.(Alaska cruises and ports of call 2005, Jerry Brown, Fran Wenograd Golden, 2005).

Denali the high one is the mane given to McKinley by the Indians of the Kuskokwim. They

looked upon Denalis as the home of their goods an area to be revered and feared. Certainly,

its mountains fastness and awesome, sterile beauty of its icebound slopes make it aloof, while

its great height gives it supremacy over this landscape. (Portrait of Alaska, Hilary Hilscher,

1997) Its the highest point on the North American continent and a world class mountaineering

destination. It was called by John McPhee a sky of rock. Mount McKinley is often covered

with clouds. Its more likely to get a clear view of it early in the morning or late in the long day.

The mountain was created by subduction, like the most active volcanoes on the continent. The

snow collected by Denali feeds several large glaciers, like the Muldrow Glacier, on the northeast

flank of the mountain. It flows 35 miles through a granite gorge and across the tundra. Twice in

the last hundred years, the Muldrow has surged, most recently in the winter of 1956-1957. Is the

largest northflowing glacier in Alaska and the original route to summit of Denali. This glacier

ends in the section of the park. It leads to historic McGonagall Pass, the beginning of a 20 mile

exhilarating hike to Wonder Lake.

Denali National Park, country of wide-open tundra and taiga and blue glaciers, of

twisting braided rivers and an extraordinary diversity of plant and wildlife, is among the largest

and most intact natural areas in the United States. The two-million-acre Mount McKinley

National Park, established in 1917 to protect a wildlife, was designated as wilderness in 1980

when Congress also added four million acres of surrounding lands and renamed the whole thing

Denali National Park and Preserve. In 1976, UNESCO named it an International Biosphere

Reserve. (Our National Parks by David Muench, Ruth Rudner, Tom Kiernan, 2005).

Flora

The Denali National Park is more than a single national park. Is bigger than the state of

Massachusetts, 6 million acres of adventure, of wildlife. The terrain of Denali National Park

includes tundra and taiga zones. The treeless areas of the park are ogten called tundra. They


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include tiny flowers, extensive mosses. In the Denali National Park, there are more than 650

species of flowering plants, who were the only ones who adapted to long, cold winters, unlike

other species of lichens, fungi and algae. Once the continental glaciers retreated from the park,

thousand of years ago, it took hundreds of years for the soils to regenerate. The same happened

with the vegetation. The dynamic glaciated landscape provides large rivers, countless lakes

and ponds, and unique landforms which form the foundation of the ecosystems that drive in

Denali.(Encyclopedia Britannica). The graminoids are the species most seen in Denali National

Park. Graminoids is the name given by the botanists to all grasses and plants that belong to the

class of Monocotyledoneae, one of the two primary classes of the flowering plants. There are

174 species of graminoids, belonging to five different families: Carex-79 species, Grass family

(Poaceae-56 species), Rush family (Juncaceae-20 species), Arrowgrass family (Junicaginaceae-

2 species) and the Cattail family (Typhaceae-1 species). These plants form the wetland plant

communities. Sedges like Carex aqualitis, Carex utriculata and Carex canescens are seen

especially in wetland habitats. Due to the fact that gramonoids are a very ecologically diverse

group of plants, species from the families Poaceae and Cyperaceae are seen in the driest plant

communities ond the landscape.

Fauna

Denali National Park is Alaskas most visited wilderness area. Wildlife is the thing in

Denali somewhere around 167 bird species, 39 mammal species, 10 fish species and a species

of amphibian. This is the area where can be seen more grizzlies than hikers, more Dall sheep

than grizzlies, more caribou than Dall sheep. Animal life and activity in Denali is dictated by

the season. Winter is the longest season and the animals that are year-round residents are well-

adapted to life in the subarctic. The brief sprinf season brings the return of 80% of Denalis bird

life, the waking of hibernating bears abd ab increase in activity levels of wildlife. Summer is a

time for raisinf young and preparind for migration, hibernation or survival during the winter.

[] In autumn, migrating birds fill the skies and bull moose gather their harems of cows for

their mating season. (Encycopedia Britannica). To keep the wildlife wild, the rangers at the

park make visible efforts, by limiting the contact between human and animals. Because of the

uncommon activity of the animals the rangers often certain areas of the park. Feeding is strictly


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forbidden and people are encouraged to visit the park animals from safe distance. In Denali we

can find a variety of Alaskan birds and mammals, a big population of grizzly bears and black

bears. The term of grizzly bear is often used to refer to members of the Ursus arctos family

found inland and in northern habitats of Alaska. They are among the largest and most ferocious

of all land mammals. They are known as brown bears in the coastal areas where salmon is the

primary food source, though brown bears and grizzly bears are the same specie. The size

depends ond the bearss food source. At Denali National Park and on similar tundra land-scape

brown bears top out closer to 500 pounds. Because in the winters that bring frigid temperatures

the foos scarces, grizzlies fatten up in the summer and remain in a torpor or deep sleep most of

the winter. Bears are tipically solitary creatures and avoid the company of each other, but in

places such as the sanctuary, concentrated food sources tend to bring out the more social side of

the animals and many can be seen sparring or fighting with one another over desirable fishing

spots. The Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus), like the Dall sheep, travel in groups. They are large,

stocky members of the deer family with concave hooves that support them in snow, soft tundra

and swimming, bulls sheed their antlers after the breeding season and most aduts males are bald

(antlerless) by January. Highly migratory, caribou must keept moving to find adequate food,

which distributes feeding pressure and prevents overgrazing. The average adult bull weights

between 350 and 400 pounds. Caribou migrate great distances from the calving grounds south

of the Alaska Range and northwest of Denali to their winter range in the northern reaches of the

park and preserve. The Denali herd has fluctuated greatly over the last 30 years. Today, groups

of 20 or more may be seen from the park road, greatly reduced from the thousands seen many

years ago. In the summer, the caribou can be seen resting in snow banks in order to escape

mosquitoes. Caribou will lose a quart of blood a day to mosquitoes during the summer

months.(Discovering Denali: A Complete Reference Guide to Denali National Parks and

Mount McKinley, Alaska, Dow Scoggins, 2004). The largest member of the deers family, the

Moose, does not live in a herd. In the summer, they are most often seen standing in forest ponds,

eating the weeds from the bottom or pruning streamside willows. The largest member of the

deer family, with males reaching 1200 to 1600 pounds, moose are found primarly in the boreal

forest that covers Interior and Southcentral Alaska. (Alaska cruises & ports of call 2005,

Jerry Brown, Fran Wenograd Golden, 2005). In Denali National Park, wolves are rarely seen,

but this doesnt mean that their role is not significant for the wildlife. Most of the the time, they


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hunt in packs, but they can also be seen alone. The presence of wolves in Denali is an indication

of the wuality of this wilderness. Besides the big animals, smaller animals, like foxes, beavers,

marmots, snowshoe hares. Born durinf February and March, common litters for the red fox

(Vulpes vulpes) have four kits, though a litter of ten is not unheard of. Kits usually open their

eyes eight to ten days after birth and leave the den for the first time a month later. Weaning from

the mother is a gradual process, and by the time the kits are three months old, they are learning to

hunt. Both parents care for the young, and the family stays together until autumn, when it breaks

uo and each animal is on its own. Red foxes are omnivorous and bury surplus food in the ground

for later use. However, they are more rarely seen due to their elusive nature. The snowshoe hare

(Lepus americanus) is the most common and widespread hare in Denali National Park. Hares are

often called rabbits and both are members of the Leporidae family. Hares, however, are born

fully furred with their eyes open. Rabbits are born blind and hairless. Snowshoe hares are found

in mixed spruce forests, wooded swamps and brushy areas and feed on a wide variety of plants

including grasses, buds, twigs and leaves. In the winter, they eat spruce twigs and needles, as

well as the bark and buds of hardwoods sucs as aspend and willow. During the cold winters,

snowshoe hares turn white and continue the struggle to survive above ground against extreme

conditions. The places where the beaver can be found the most are the tundra pounds in the

western part of the park. They live about 10 to 12 years. Generally, most adult beavers weigh 40

to 70 pounds, but they can reach 100 pounds too. The beavers heavy chestnut brown coat over

a warm soft underfur keeps the animal comfortable in all temperature. They have large, webbed

feet and a broad, black tail that can be used as a rudder when swimming. When slapped

against the water, it serves as a sign of warning, but it can signal other emotions as well.

(Discovering Denali: A Complete Reference Guide to Denali National Parks and Mount

McKinley, Alaska, Dow Scoggins, 2004). The two types of marmot that live in The Denali

National Park are the hoary marmot and the Alaska marmot. They are the large relatives of the

squirrel. They weigh the most, 10 pounds or more, in the summer, when they accumulate fats

that will sustain them through winter hibernation. Both species have head short and broad, legs

short, ears small, body thickset, tail densely furred, and front paws clawed for digging burrows.

Hoary and Alaska marmots are predominantly gray with a darker lower back and face and a

dark, reddish tail. The hoary marot has a white patch above its nose and usually has dark brown

feet, giving it the Latin name caligata, meaning booted. (Discovering Denali: A Complete


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Reference Guide to Denali National Parks and Mount McKinley, Alaska, Dow Scoggins, 2004).

Many of the rivers and lakes of Denali are fed by glaciers and cold temperatures slow down the

metabolism of the fish. In the waters of the park, we can find ten species of fish, including trout,

salmon and arctic grayling. On any summer day in Denali, Alaskas most well known national

park, hundreds of people see sights that will stay with tem for the rest of their lives. Perhaps a

golden eagle will soar off the cliffs at Polychrome Pass, or 20 Dalls sheep will rest on a green

shoulder of Primrose Ridge,or a grizzly will ramble over the tundra at Sable Pass. Maybe a

caribou will pause on a ridgetop, silhouetred by the warm light of days end, or a loon will call

across Wonder Lake, or clouds will part to reveal the great massif of Mount McKinley, 20.320

feet high, the roof of North America. (National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the

United States, Sixth Edition, 2009)

Weather

I once asked a park ranger in Denali National Park what the forecast was for that day. He said

Chance of sunshine, partly cloudy, rain, snow and possibly an earthquake. Thats the best way

to say, be prepared for anything. Within a 24 hour period, summer weather can change from 70

degrees and sunny to 30 degrees and snowing (Discovering Denali: A Complete Reference

Guide to Denali National Parks and Mount McKinley, Alaska, Dow Scoggins, 2004 ). The

Denali National Park experiences a wide range of meteorological conditions. Because Mount

McKinley reaches 20320 feet above sea level (the highest point in North America), he

experiences some of the most difficult weather conditions in the world. The Park is situated in

the two major climatic zones of Alaska: the transitional maritime zone south of the Alaska Range

and the continental zone in the interior region, north of the range. In the north side of the park we

can find less precipitation and greater fluctuations in temperature than in the south side, where

there is transitional maritime continental climate, the summers are cooler and the winters are

warmer. Generally, the summers are hotter, with temperatures that can reach 90 F, and the

winters are colder, with temperatures that go under -50 F. The climate has a very important

influence on the ecology in Denali and an important role in understanding and predicting

physical and ecological changes in the park. Long winters are followed by short growing


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seasons. This is a good opportunity for 80% of the bird population to return, raising their young.

The spring and summer months are short. Its time for every animal to teach their young.

Summers are usually cool, rain falling about half of the summer days, but its not rare to reach

70 F. The winters temperature is the most constant: clear and cold. The climbing season on

Denali lasts from April through July. As a impressive fact, it is possible to see the sun at

midnight on the summer solstice from Denalis summit. The big storms on Denali originate in

the Aleutians. The air temperature is a good indicator to predict these storms. In the night before

the storm, the temperatures are below 0 F when its good and clear weather and when its bad

weather, the temperatures reach 0 F. Another unusual weather phenomenon is the lenticular

cloudcap, which occurs suddenly in the afternoon and cold temperature takes over step by step.

The lenticular cloudcap happens when moist wind strikes the upper part of the mountain, where

cools and condenses, creating fog, winds and sometimes snow. Daily weather observations,

including minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation amounts have been recorded

at park headquarters since 1923. Temperature extremes at park headquarters range from 91F

to -54F. Average maximum temperatures at park headquarters are 11F for January and 66 F

for July. The average minimum temperatures for the same months are -7F and 43F,

respectively. The daily temperature range during the summer months (June through August)

averages 22F. Much wider daily temperature ranges (up to 68F) occur during the winter

months. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Things to do in the Denali National Park

Each year, hundreds of thousand of visitors are attracted by Denalis spectacular wildlife: the

grizzly bears, the Dall sheep, the wolves, the moose, the caribou and many others. Climbers from

all over the world come to Mount McKinley, the continents highest peak. However, they dont

have to climb it in order to experience it. The Murie Science and Learning Center is a great

place to stop for the entire family. Classes can be taken and seminaries attened. For the ones who

want to spend a half day, they can attend one of the sled dog demonstrations or attend an

education program at the Murie Science and Learning Center or take a shuttle bus into the park.

They can hike one of the entrance area trails near the Denali Visitor center. Each of the trails


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provides opportunities for explorinf tha taiga and observing wildlife. Another interesting thing to

do is to watch the feature film at the Denali Visitor Center and Wilderness Access Center.

For the ones who want to spend a full day in the Denali National Park, they can join a ranger for

a Discovery Hike or guided walk, sign up for an education program at the Murie Science and

Learning Center, take a guided Tundra Wilderness Tour of the park to Toklat River or ride the

Kantishna Experience to Mile 90.

Last, but not least, for the ones who have several days to spend in the Denali National Park, they

can visit Denalis Talkeetna Ranger Station, located 150 miles south of the park entrance in the

town of Talkeetna. Its a spectacular road trip that goes through Denali State Park and provides

great views of Mount McKinley and the Alaska Range. or, why not, plan their own trip with the

help of topographical maps, guidebooks.

References

1. Benchwick Greg, Bodry Catherine, Dufresne Jim Alaska (2009)

2. Brown Jerry, Wenograd Golden Fran Alaska cruises & ports of call 2005 (2005)

3. Encyclopedia Britannica

4. Hall Margaret Denali National Park and Preserve (2006)

5. Hilscher Hillary Portrait of Alaska (1992)

6. Kiernan Tom, Muench David, Rudner Ruth Our National Parks (2005)

7. ODonnel Kerry Denali National Park, an Alaska ecosystem: creating graphical

representations of data (2007)

8. Scoggins Dow Discovering Denali-a complete reference guide to Denali National Park

and ount McKinley, Alaska (2004)

9. Stuck Hudson The ascent od Denali (1918)

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