Alaska & The Yukon 2009 - (Page 16) Denali National Park M I G H TY MCKINLEY, WATCHABLE WILDLIFE Feel the magic and mystery of Denali National Park — eagles patrolling the uplands, moose foraging in the meadows and grizzlies lumbering across braided rivers. And every turn in the park road takes you deeper into a land virtually unchanged by man. Better than any other national park, Denali preserves and showcases the true nature of wilderness. On your official Denali National Park tour you will receive a special souvenir book produced by the Alaska Natural History Association on behalf of the National Park Service. This national park and biosphere reserve is home to 20,320-foot-high Mt. McKinley, a mountain so massive it makes its own weather; a peak so mighty, the Athabascan people called it “The Great One.” Viewed up close on a clear day, the tallest mountain in North America fills the horizon. It’s a wonder among wonders within the largest continually protected ecosystem in the world. Traveling the treeless tundra, one views staggering vistas. There’s no landscape like it outside the Arctic, and few places offer a more thrilling wildlife experience. Watch for Alaska’s legendary “Big Five”— moose, caribou, grizzly bear, Dall sheep and wolf — in a stunning setting. Tall mountains, ice-blue glaciers, milky rivers, flower-decked tundra and dramatic geological features like the red, yellow and brown basalts of Polychrome Pass unfold at a leisurely pace. With just one ribbon of road and a mere handful of Visitor Centers in six million acres of unspoiled wilderness, Denali can keep you mesmerized for days. Two tours, endless possibilities Experience the feel of a vast Alaskan wilderness as you explore the official park road. Tund Ra wILd eRnes s TouR 6 to 8 hours 53–62 miles • what’s included: Expert narration, snack box, stunning scenery • duration: • distance traveled: • points of interest: First possible glimpse of Mt. McKinley at Savage River; the “drunken forest” of Teklanika; possible wildlife sightings of the Dall sheep of Igloo Canyon, the grizzlies of Sable Pass, the caribou of Toklat River naTuRaL H IsToRy TouR Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour Ins Id e T I p 4 to 5 hours • distance traveled: 19 miles • what’s included: Expert narration, snack • points of interest: Government Hill, Yanert Valley, taiga forest and prime moose and wolf habitat • duration: Our experts recommend that you take a flightseeing tour in the morning and a river-rafting or other outdoor adventure in the afternoon to maximize your Mt. McKinley viewing experience. L eFT To RIGH T Mt. McKinley from Stony Hill on the longer Tundra Wilderness Tour. Mt. McKinley from Primrose Ridge on the shorter Natural History Tour. op p osIT e Mt. McKinley mirrored in the waters of Wonder Lake. 16 e-brochures available online http://experience.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/alaskacruise/assets/video/wildernesstour.swf
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