Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States

Rugged peaks and wild waters. Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States

Today, let's turn our attention to Kenai Fjords National Park, a gem on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula in the United States. Stretching over 2,590 square kilometres, this landscape features towering fjords, winding river valleys and alpine landscapes. More than half of its terrain is blanketed in ice, with glaciers dominating 51% of its area. Throughout the 20th century, the park's glaciers have receded, uncovering new land for plant and animal life to take root. From ancient Sitka spruces to delicate fireweed shoots and lush moss carpeting the forest floor, plant life in Kenai Fjords flourishes despite the rugged terrain. The park is also home to diverse terrestrial and marine mammals, including timber wolves, porcupines, Canadian lynxes and cetaceans like orcas and fin whales. It also hosts a variety of birds, such as bald eagles and Peale's peregrine falcons.

Kenai Fjords isn't just about stunning landscapes and flourishing wilderness—it's also a place rich with human history. For thousands of years, Alaska Natives have called this region home, leaving behind traces of their lives in the land. Within the national park, the past still lingers—from Sugpiaq camps, an Alaska Native group, once scattered along the coastline to the remnants of old mining camps in Nuka Bay. These historical footprints are just as precious as the park's natural wonders, offering a vital connection to the people who shaped this land. With so much to explore, it's no wonder Kenai Fjords is one of the most-visited parks in the state.