North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park

Geological Origins: Geologists believe that the North Cascades are a collage of terranes (distinct collections of rock separated by faults). Fossil and rock magnetism studies indicate that the North Cascades terranes were formed thousands of miles south in the Pacific Ocean. Attached to slowly moving plates of oceanic rock, they drifted north and merged together about 90 million years ago. After colliding with the North American Continent, the drifting rock masses were thrust upwards and broke into a multitude of mountains.

Natural History:Terrestrial Biome: Boreal Forest BiomeAquatic Biomes: Streams and Rivers, Lakes and Ponds, Wetland, Marshes, Swamps Climate: The climate depends on location and elevation. There are temperate forest climates in lower areas and montane and alpine climates on the mountains. Wildlife: One of the most diverse ecosystem on Earth with a large variety of amphibians, birds, fish, and mammals as well as a large multitude of ferns, grasses, lichens, trees and shurbs, and wildflowers.

Ecosystem: Montane Forest EcosystemEndangered Species: the gray wolf

The vast ecosystems allow for immense plant and animal diversity, in order to preserve all this magnificent wildlife, the park must be protected!

The US National Park Service Protects the North Cascades National Park!

Sources:-http://www.nps.gov/noca/naturescience/index.htm-http://www.travelaroundusa.com/north-cascades-national-park-wa.html-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Cascades_National_Park-http://www.usastatestravel.com/images/kas3.jpg-http://moon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/wash_08_North-Cascades-National-Park.jpg

The North Cascades also has a rich human history. Two Native American peoples: the people of the Columbian River Basin and the people of the Puget Lowlands traveled across mountain passes to trade. Also from the 1880s to the 1950s, gold and silver were periodically mined from the peaks of the North Cascades--however there was never any large scale mining. A little bit of the park was also commerically logged. Fur-traders, traveling on foot and by canoe, were the first Euro-Americans to venture into the wilderness in late 1700s.

Currently the only threat to the North Cascades is 200,000 acres of land are at risk of mining and clearcutting. This is critical habitat for bears, elk, and especially the endangered Chinook salmon.

The North Cascades National Park will not be closed because of government funding cuts!!!