Thursday, November 6, 2008

Sky Watch Friday: Skies over Denali


For today's edition of Sky Watch Friday, which begins on Thursday in my part of the world, I submit a photo taken back in September of 2001. While my wife and I were on vacation up in Alaska I took this photo of Denali, otherwise known as Mount McKinley.
Denali, in the language of the Native Americans, Athabascan, living in the region, means "The High One". Denali was so named because it is the largest mountain in the world. Although the peak of Mount Everest is about 9000 feet higher then sea level then Denali is it sits on the Tibetan Plateau which is about 17,000 feet above sea level. So the actual height of Everest, from the base of the mountain to the peak, is about 12,000 feet. Denali sits on a plateau that is only about 2000 feet above sea level which means its height, from the base to the peak, is actually around 18,000. In 1917 the mountain, along with millions of surrounding acres, became a game refuge named after Senator and President William McKinley. In 1980 the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act added another 4 million and redesignated the Park from Mount McKinley National Park to Denali National Park and Preserve. Even though the federal government, through the US Board on Geographic Names, considers the mountain as Mount McKinley, the State of Alaska, as well as many people who visit this awesome mountain, recognize it as its original name Denali.

33 comments:

Shelley said...

Just breathtaking to behold! Alaska is my dream trip - the hubby & I hope to go within the next 2 years.

noflickster said...

Wow! The only view we had of "The Mountain" during our 4-day camping trip in Denali was about 1:00 AM. Luckily it was around the summer solstice so it was light enough to see! During the rest of our stay Denali made its own weather: cloudy, cloudy, cloudy.

Beautiful shot!
-Mike

Brad Myers said...

Wow, you captured Denali perfectly. I didn't have any luck when I was their, it remained cloud covered. Great capture.

Anonymous said...

awesome capture ... reminds me of ansel adams.

Photo Cache said...

Mine is quite similar, but not the majestic Denali. I wanted to see Denali for a long time. May be someday.

This is very beautiful.

Louise said...

This is on my list of "must see" things one day. The mountain completely fascinates me. (And you actually got a picture of most of it!)

Fabulous photo!

Ana said...

Wish I was there too. Cool

 gmirage said...

An awesome view, like the sky is so pure and fresh with both blue and white...

Happy Skywatching! - ViennaDaily

EG CameraGirl said...

Now that's interesting! I had no idea that Denali is actually the tallest mountain. Great trivia. ;-)

Nova said...

nice.. i love the sky and the clouds in the sky.. you can also visit mine through HERE

Arija said...

Not only a superb photo, but a wonderfully informative post. You're not just apretty face!

Leedra said...

How did you ever say you don't take landscape photographs? Just had to start looking back at what you already had in your stock pile.

Angie said...

An absolutely stunning shot.

Anonymous said...

Breathtaking photo! I think I'll be spending a little time here checking out the rest of your photos. Very nice! :-)

Jane Hards Photography said...

It is an amazing sight.

G. Crappy said...

Awesome photo and great info, thank you.

Anonymous said...

Just elegant!

Rambling Woods said...

Wow..that is awesome...

Anonymous said...

The clouds looks like smoke of ice on a cone! Really nice... happy skywatching!

My Skywatch

Pearl Maple said...

Magnificant photo for Sky Watch Friday, really enjoy it when folks take the time to explain the location. Thanks for sharing your view with us all.

esnorway said...

nice pic and good info that mont have good weekend

Anonymous said...

WOW! This is just breathtaking!~ Lovely shot too:)

Mine's, HERE. If you get a chance:)
Happy SWF!

Anonymous said...

Great capture ecobirder! Denali is beautiful indeed and thanks for sharing the information.

AphotoAday said...

That is SUPER...

Anonymous said...

This is a breathtaking photo. Beautiful beyond words.

Kathleen McQueen Wright said...

WOW!
Awesome shot!!!

DeniseinVA said...

I am so thankful that we have all these incredible National Parks and Preserves to visit. Your photo is fantastic, stunning. Thank you for sharing it with us.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

I never knew that about Denali!
Thanks and SWF.
Nina at Nature Remains

Zeee said...

I love the view! Breathtaking!

Anonymous said...

Awesome shot!!
I love it!

Torsdag 1952 said...

That is a beautiful Sky Watch for me. Old times are coming up. I have been living for 5 weeks in the wilderness some miles north from Talkeetna in 1977. We had a beautiful view on Alaska Range and Denali.
Thanks for sharing.
Hallo from Germany
Hartmut

Anonymous said...

This is gorgeous - almost hard to see where the sky ends and the mountain starts!

Mckay K said...

This picture is breathtakingly beautiful. Thanks for the information connected to it.