Glacier National Park – Discover This Historical Intact Ecosystem
Author: Anthony Williams

Look out from the main parking lot of the St. Mary Lodge &
Resort, located at the East entrance of Glacier National Park in
Montana, and behold one of the largest intact ecosystems in the
lower 48 states. Glacier National Park encompasses 1.4 million
acres (1,600 square miles) of wildlife preserves and offers some
of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable.

William Howard Taft was U.S. President when the area was
officially declared a National Park in 1910, but its history
goes back 170 million years before then. Colliding continental
plates, massive glacier movement, and natural erosion all joined
hands to create this wonderful monument to the forces of nature.


Although tourists began visiting back in the late 1890s,
archeological evidence indicates that the land was inhabited by
humans as far back as 10,000 years ago. Home to the Blackfoot
and Kootenai Native American tribes, there are areas in the Park
which are still considered to be sacred grounds.

About The Ecosystem

Glacier National Park offers a simultaneous view into
pre-historic times and modern flora and fauna.

Most of the rocks formations are from the Proterozoic age which
ranged from 1,600 to 800 million years ago. Although rock
formations of that age found in other parts of the world have
been radically changed by the Earth's natural aging process,
those in Glacier National Park still bear most of their original
characteristics. This provides a wealth of information to
geologists and some very unique experiences for tourists.

These ancient rock formations are home to fossils including
stromatolites, a species of algae that inhabited the warm
shallow seas that pre-dates the Rocky Mountains which are part
of the Park. The fact that these fossils have survived makes the
Glacier National Park a living classroom for scientists studying
the evolution of Earth.

Of course, it's the glaciers that give Glacier National Park
its name. These glaciers are thought to be only a few thousand
years old, making them relatively young compared to the overall
timeline of the Park.

Climate change is impacting the Glaciers and causing them to
shrink as more snow melts during the warm season than forms in
the cold season. But when the Glaciers were active, they filled
the valleys with moving currents of ice which sculpted the
mountain ranges you see today.

A Sea Of Wildflowers

The glacier movement combined with other natural erosion forces
left behind fertile soil. That's why Glacier National Park is
inhabited by an array of plants, trees and wildflowers including
larch, spruce, fir, western cedar and pine trees, as well as
heather, gentian, beargrass, glacier lily, pasque flower,
lupine, Indian paintbrush, gaillardia, asters, and other
wildflower species.

An Abundance of Wildlife

One of the contributing factors to Glacier National Park's
designation as being one of the largest intact ecosystems in the
lower 48 States is the fact that there are so many species of
wildlife calling the Park home. From the endangered American
Bald Eagle to the Western Jumping Mouse, nowhere else in North
America brings together so many wildlife species.

Glacier National Park's biggest wildlife attractions include
Lynx, Mountain Lion, Black and Grizzly Bear, Bison and Wolves
representing but a few of the 272 species of birds and 63 mammal
species found there.

Lakes of Glacier National Park

Framed by the Park's legendary mountain peaks, Glacier National
Park is home to over 700 lakes including 650 named lakes. One of
the largest lakes of Glacier National park is St. Mary Lake,
home to St. Mary Lodge & Resort. The largest glacier-formed lake
is McDonald Lake, situated 3,153 feet above sea level on the
Park's Western portion and West of the Continental Divide. The
lake is 10 miles long with depths ranging to 427 feet. Its
shimmering water led to it being called "Sacred Dancing Lake" by
the Native American Kootenai tribe.

Over 500 creeks and streams are also located in Glacier
National Park as well as plenty of water falls. All in all,
Glacier National Park is covered by 2,000 acres of water.

With this abundance of water, it makes sense that Glacier
National Park is also home to a great many species of fish as
well. The most abundant species include cutthroat trout, ling,
northern pike, whitefish, kokanee salmon, grayling, rainbow
trout, lake trout and the protected bull trout.

You Can See It All In One Place

Go ahead. Plan your next vacation to Glacier National Park, one
of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states. You'll
be glad you did!


About The Author: http://www.stmarylodgeandresort.com