'Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve' is a
U.S. National Monument and
National Preserve, consisting of the region around the
Aniakchak volcano on the
Aleutian Range of south-western
Alaska.

Aerial-view of the caldera of Mount Aniakchak from the west

Aniakchak Caldera
The area was proclaimed a national monument on
December 1,
1978 and established as a national monument and preserve on
December 2,
1980. The national monument is 137,176 federal acres (555 km²) and the preserve is 465,603 acres (1,884 km²) of which 439,863 are federal. The area is maintained by the
National Park Service. With only 285 documented recreational visits in 2004, this remote place is perhaps the least visited unit of the
National Park System. Most visitors fly into the area, but the frequent fog and other adverse weather conditions make landing difficult.
The Aniakchak region is part of the
Pacific Ring of Fire, and the national monument consists of the
caldera around Mount Aniakchak, with notable examples of several volcanic features - such as
lava flows and
cinder cones.
Surprise Lake, located within the caldera, is the source of the
Aniakchak River, a
National Wild and Scenic River. The "Aniakchak Bay Historic Landscape District" surrounds the Aniakchak River from Aniakchak Crater to Aniakchak Bay and was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places on
February 14,
1997.
External links
★ Official NPS website:
Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve
★
NPS geology fieldnotes on the Aniakchak region