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Program Review: Alex and Tom recount their recent adventures to
Alaska. Alex concentrated on waterways, glaciers, and gold mining. Tom related
his hiking experiences to the topography and geology of our 49th state.
Both pooled their digital slides for a masterful presentation about life and geology in
the Alaskan towns and wilderness.
Alex told us of his cruise along the coast. He said that one could see 20 miles
or more to the peaks beyond. Among the geologic features are: Mount McKinley (the
tallest peak in North America), 2 million lakes, braided rivers, and tidal glaciers.
On the waters he witnessed frolicking seals and diving humpback whales.
He and his wife visited Denali National Park and saw large scale wildlife, such as
grizzly bears, bald eagles, and salmon.
They saw gold dredges, relics and new technology, and miners who can still claim gold
in them thar hills. Citing the remnants of the Yukon gold rush of the late 1800s,
the history still haunts the small villages up north today.
He got to shop and pan for some gold there, but no major mineral exploration was
conducted on this trip.
Tom relayed some more geography of southwestern Alaska. He gave us some
perspective of landmass by telling us that the state is approximately 2,000 miles from
east to west, and is about 1,500 miles from north to south. The Aleutian Islands
stretch out into the Bering Sea.
He concurs with Alex that gold is still being prospected and found here. He cited
a recent strike near Iliamna Lake, the largest in the history of the state.
Environmental concerns, however, preclude mining with current techniques, as mercury and
other byproducts of reclamation would pollute the salmon spawning grounds and
fisheries. As fishing is among the most prevalent industries in the area, mining has
been put off indefinitely.
Among the geological features that Tom both hiked and flew over, are the glacial
deposition features of the region. His visit to Lake Clark via the Cook Inlet had
him witness massive acreage of glacial till outwash and weed flats. He saw basaltic
mountains around the active volcano ridges. Long low ridges of glacial rock scree
and pink-gray mud permeated his view, but a look down 40-50 feet deep glacial lakes
balanced the experience.
Both men had some grand outdoor adventures. Thanks for sharing them with us, Alex
and Tom!
[Ken Casey]
Links
Stories of the Gold
Rush
Pan for gold
in Alaska
Denali National
Park
Iliamna News
Alaska
Volcano Observatory
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