A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge in Alaska known for its world class bear and caribou has attracted the keen interest of the scientific community for an unlikely natural resource treasure -its infant volcano.
In 10 violent days of steam, lava and fire in 1977, Ukinrek Maars (its name in the Yupik Eskimo language means "two holes in the ground") blasted out of the tundra on what is now the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge to become the worlds youngest volcano. This summer, as biologists study concentrations of brown bears around Becharof Lake, some of the nations top volcanologists have converged at the new volcano less than one mile away.
By studying the volcanoes deposits and correlating them with events leading to its recent eruption, the scientists hope to find the key to predicting potentially catastrophic, explosive eruptions of volcanoes like Ukinrek Maars. One such volcano, Mount Vesuvius, became infamous for its explosive eruption which buried the ancient city of Pompeii in 79 AD.
"Lots of people know about our trophy bears and caribou and great fishing on the Becharof Refuge, which was originally established as a National Wildlife Monument because of the brown bears. But most people dont realize we have anything like world class volcanoes, too," said Ronald Hood, Becharof Refuge manager. "Were pleased to be able to assist the volcanologists working out here. This place is just full of unique surprises."
Located near Becharof Lake, 295 miles southwest of Anchorage at the base of the Alaska Peninsula, the Ukinrek Maars are two craters, one of which is now filled with 150 feet of water, associated with nearby Mount Peulik, one of three active volcanoes on or near the refuge. Volcanic craters called "mears" are characterized by low volcanic cones and wide, bowl-shaped craters, and are usually formed when hot magma flows from the depths of the earth into aquifers or other water sources, causing the water to flash into steam in an explosion or rapid series of explosive events. They are uncommon in Alaska.
"The underlying reason for this research is to aid understanding of hydrovolcanic processes for hazards assessments," the scientists reported in their project summary. "Hydrovolcanic eruptions commonly include blast events that are among the most devastating and hazardous of all eruptions." By documenting the events that led to the Ukinrek maars eruption, the scientists believe they can help predict blast-type eruptions of similar volcanoes near populated areas, according to Michael H. Ort, a professor with the Northern Arizona University and research team leader. He is assisted by researchers from University of California, the Geological Survey and the Los Alamos National Laboratory working at the site, with support from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists from the refuge staff.
In Alaska, volcanoes and wildlife seem to go together. Alaska has more national wildlife refuge land and more volcanoes than any other state in the United States. According to U.S. Geological Survey figures, Alaska has more than 80 active volcanoes, one third of the worlds total. Volcanologists have documented more than 200 volcanic eruptions throughout the State.
Service biologists point out that in some cases volcanoes provide benefits for wildlife. Becharof Refuge Manager Hood has seen both caribou and bears enjoying the snowy heights of the Mount Peulik volcano.
"Ive seen bears go up there in August when its hot. Theyll dig holes in the snow and climb in to cool off. Caribou go up there to get away from the insects."
Service biologist Ed Bailey points out that one of the largest auklet populations in the world lives on hardened lava flows on Kiska Island, part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife refuge. "Volcanic lava flows and land slides form cracks and crevices that provide nesting areas for puffins and auklets in other areas on refuges as well," he said.
Since the first national wildlife refuge was established 90 years ago at Pelican Island, Fla., more than 500 refuges comprising more than 90 million acres have been designated throughout the country. Alaskas 16 national wildlife refuges, only two of which are accessible by road, encompass more than 77 million acres of land. These refuges support some of the worlds richest wildlife resources ranging from the its largest brown bears, sea birds, polar bears, walrus, caribou, wolves, waterfowl and several endangered species. In addition, they encompass thousands of rivers, lakes, glaciers, and almost 100 volcanoes.
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