Denali, << duh NAHL ee, >> National Park protects the herds of wild animals that roam in one of the finest wildlife regions in North America. The park is in south-central Alaska, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) southwest of Fairbanks. For the park’s area, see National Park System (table: National parks) .
The park was established in 1917 as Mount McKinley National Park. It received its present name in 1980. Denali, in the southwestern end of the park, is the chief attraction. It is the highest peak in North America and towers to 20,310 feet (6,190 meters). In the language of the Athabaskan Indians, the name Denali means The Great One or The High One. Mount Foraker, near Denali, rises 17,400 feet (5,304 meters). Over 300 other peaks of the Alaska Range rise along the park’s southern border.
Many kinds of mammals live in this rich wildlife region. They include grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall’s sheep, red foxes, squirrels, rabbits, shrews, voles, and lemmings. More than 80 kinds of birds nest in the park. Birds in the park include the Alaska jay, golden eagle, golden plover, jaeger, raven, robin, surfbird, wandering tattler, and white-crowned sparrow. The park is open the year around. It may be reached by rail, highway, or air.
