Encyclopedia : W : WR : WRA : Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
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Established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a United StatesNational Park in southern Alaska. The park area is included in an International Biosphere Reserve and is part of a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. It is the largest national park in the United States, covering an area of 20,587 mi² (53,321 km²), or over 13 million acres (53,000 km²). It includes the second-highest peak in the country, Mount Saint Elias, at 18,008 feet (5,489 meters). It borders on Canada's Kluane National Park and Reserve. The vast majority of the park is designated as wilderness.
The park is accessible by highway from Anchorage; two rough gravel roads (the McCarthy Road and the Nabesna Road) wind through the park, making much of the interior accessible for backcountry camping and hiking. Chartered aircraft also fly into the park. Wrangell-St. Elias received roughly 57,221 visitors in 2004 and is quickly gaining popularity through its combination of size, remoteness, and accessibility.
