• Autumn photo of Lake Clark and the Aleutian Range in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

    Lake Clark

    National Park & Preserve Alaska

Nature & Science

Digital technology has become a major component of scientific research in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.
Although most visitors see the park in
the summer, scientists work year-round!
 

Geology, biology, botany, volcanology, paleontology....the list of subjects for scientific study in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is nearly endless. Coastal cliffs on Cook Inlet hold fossil remnants of 150 million years of sea life. Below them, salmon pass through tidal estuaries on their way to spawning grounds in mountain lakes, chased by hungry seals and brown bears. Two active volcanoes – Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Redoubt – tower above the landscape. Glaciers wind their way down into valleys where the Alaska and Aleutian ranges join. Dall sheep share treacherous mountain slopes with delicate alpine wildflowers. Continuously inhabited since early prehistoric times, the Lake Clark region nevertheless remains sparsely populated by humans. Follow the links above to learn more about this wild, complex place.

  • Red salmon runs have declined in recent years. Red salmon runs have declined in recent years.

    A cooperative project between NPS and other agencies seeks to understand why.

Did You Know?

A Dall Sheep ram in the mountains of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.

Dall sheep are the only wild sheep in the world with a white coat. Because they prefer steep, mountainous habitat, spotting a sheep is a rare treat in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.