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North Cascades National Park in Washington State was formed on October 2, 1968. The North Cascades are one of the largest mountain ranges. Stretching from the south of the Fraser River in Canada, they contribute greatly to the climate of the Pacific Northwest. The largest number of visitors come in August, the smallest in January. On average, the park is visited annually by about 400,000 people.
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| North Cascades National Park Washington State |
The world of the North Cascades National Park is a rich and varied ecosystem - places linked by geography and climate and the interactions of living communities and animals. There is a great contrast between the old forests of the river valleys and the twisted trees of the subalpine ridge, the difference between the lush vegetation of the western side and the drier forests of the eastern slope.
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| North Cascades National Park Washington State |
If you move up the river valley to the mountainous forest, the flora and fauna gradually change. The giant pines of the Lowlands give way to Douglas fir and Pacific Silver fir. As we ascend higher from the river valley, we enter the subalpine world of meadows and stunted trees. Climbing higher to the glacial snow, we enter the world of rock and ice.
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| North Cascades National Park Washington State |
There are not many untouched areas in the world today. The Pacific Northwest Mountains can still be considered as such. Here, the habitat and natural communities are preserved as pristine as possible in a national park or wilderness forest. Water is the essence of the North Cascades National Park. Small streams and streams flow down from glaciers and snowy plains to combine into powerful streams.
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| North Cascades National Park Washington State |
These streams merge into the mighty rivers of the western slope. Hundreds of small lakes, usually in difficult terrain, are scattered throughout the North Cascades National Park, Washington State. Many of these lakes are karst lakes, remnants of alpine glaciers that once covered the territory of the future park. Mountain lakes are surrounded by swamps and meadows.