Katmai National Park: Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes In 1912, in the southeastern region of Alaska, the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century took place. This event, considered the 5th largest eruption in the world on record, was cataclysmic. Before the event, this area, a river valley native peoples used as a passage point, was a watershed region for a few small fishing communities. The volcano was named [...]
Elemental Opposites Alaska is home to not only the most glaciers in the Northern continent, it is also known for it's density of volcanoes. There are 54 that are considered 'active', meaning they have erupted within the last 300 years. With non-active (dormant) volcanoes, there are over 130 in Alaska. Some of them are even active today and many of these volcanoes have been etched by glacier moving across [...]
Mushrooms: Cluster of mushrooms on forest floor Not quite a plant, mushrooms belong in their own family: fungus. In fact, mushrooms are more common to animals than they are to plants! Fungi grow all over the world and come and many shapes and sizes. Mushrooms are the result of the spores of a fungi fruiting. They come in all shapes and sizes in all sorts of ecological environments, but [...]
Alaskan Volcanoes and the Roman Empire The Roman Empire Scientists have recently concluded that an Alaskan volcano erupted and played in a contributing role in the fall of the Roman Republic. In the same vein, the rise of the Roman Empire. From 43-42 BC, most of Europe (and likely the rest of the Northern Hemisphere) experienced a cold wave. This brought temperatures down by as much as 17 degrees Fahrenheit on [...]
Geology in the Mat-Su Valley The Matanuska-Susitna Valley has been perfectly carved over thousands of years to frame glaciers, mountains, rivers, and become an entrance to exploration. This valley is located in the southeastern region of Alaska, dipping into the Interior. You'll pass giant peaks etched away and dropping into cliffs that meet the river basin. Accessing the geological wonders this valley has to offer is as easy as a [...]
