Wrangell–St. Elias National Park Geography Quiz
Mountains, glaciers, tectonics (10 questions).
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park Geography Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a colossal landscape, home to an unparalleled combination of towering mountains, vast glaciers, and dynamic tectonic forces. As the largest national park in the United States, it offers a dramatic theater for geological processes, from the ongoing uplift of its mountain ranges to the relentless flow of its immense icefields. Understanding its geography means delving into the powerful interactions that shape this rugged wilderness.
Key Geographical Features
Key Takeaways
- Wrangell–St. Elias is the largest U.S. National Park, encompassing over 13.2 million acres.
- Mount Saint Elias, at 18,008 feet, is the park’s highest peak and the second highest in the U.S.
- The park is a nexus for four major mountain ranges: Saint Elias, Wrangell, Chugach, and a portion of the Alaska Range.
- It boasts the largest concentration of glaciers in North America, including piedmont, tidewater, and valley glaciers.
- The Malaspina Glacier is North America’s largest piedmont glacier, spreading out like a fan at the base of the mountains.
- The geological landscape is shaped by the active subduction zone where the Pacific Plate dives beneath the North American Plate.
- Mount Wrangell is an active shield volcano within the park, featuring one of the largest high-altitude icefields in North America.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the largest mountain in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park?
Mount Saint Elias is the highest peak within Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, standing at 18,008 feet (5,489 meters). It is also the second-highest peak in both the United States and Canada.
What is the significance of the Malaspina Glacier?
The Malaspina Glacier is renowned as North America’s largest piedmont glacier. A piedmont glacier forms when one or more valley glaciers flow out of a mountain range onto a broad plain and spread out into a wide, fan-shaped lobe.
How were the mountains of Wrangell–St. Elias formed?
The mountains of Wrangell–St. Elias were primarily formed by the collision of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. This ongoing tectonic convergence leads to significant crustal uplift, folding, and faulting, creating the immense mountain ranges.
Are there active volcanoes in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park?
Yes, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park is home to the Wrangell Volcanic Field, which includes several large shield volcanoes. Mount Wrangell, one of the largest active volcanoes in North America, is particularly notable for its summit caldera and extensive ice cap.
What is the Bagley Icefield?
The Bagley Icefield is one of the largest non-polar icefields in the world, located primarily within the Saint Elias Mountains in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. It acts as a massive reservoir, feeding numerous large valley glaciers, including the Bering and Malaspina Glaciers.
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