Category Archives: PLACE

Denali National Park

February 19, 1917

Denali Final

Illustrated Kevin Contreras

Denali National Park and Preserve is a national park and preserve located in Interior Alaska, centered on Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain in North America. The park encompasses more than 6 million acres (24,500 km²), of which 4,724,735.16 acres (19,120 km²) are federally owned. The national preserve is 1,334,200 acres (5,430 km²), of which 1,304,132 acres (5,278 km²) are federally owned.

The bill to establish the National Park was introduce in April, 1916,  and on February 19, 1917 the bill passed. On February 26, 1917, eleven years from the conception, President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson signed the bill into legislation.[4]

Only a portion of Mount McKinley (not even including the summit) was within the original park boundary. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. A separate Denali National Monument was proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter on December 1, 1978.

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Deepwater Horizon Explodes on Earth Day

April 20, 2010

On Earth Day, April 20, 2010, the British Petroleum oil rig Deepwater Horizon explodes, causing crude oil to flow unabated into the Gulf of Mexico for three months. Estimated to be more than 130 miles long and 70 miles wide, at 5 million barrels (205.8 million gallons) it is the largest accidental marine oil spill in history, reeking devastating consequences onto the fragile wetlands, bayous and coastal waters of the Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida coastlines. Crude oil continues to seep and threaten the survival of hundreds of species in the Gulf of Mexico, including the critical habitats for whales, sea turtles, migratory birds and other endangered species. (source)

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