The Kobuk Valley National Park is located in the state of Alaska. Every year over 6,300 visitors travel to the 6,758 km² nature reserve. The park was established on March 4, 1940.
Location of the Kobuk Valley National Park
In northwest Alaska is the area of the Kobuk Valley National Park. The area is located 120 kilometers east of the city of Kotzebue and is almost completely enclosed by mountains. The plain in it is traversed in the middle by the Kobuk River.
Geology of the Kobuk Valley National Park
For visitors, the Kobuk Valley National Park is a real feast for the eyes, because nature had free reign here thanks to the protective wall of the Baird and Waring Mountains that surround the Kobuk Valley. The Great-Kobuk sand dunes are also among the attractions in the national park. These were created by the grinding and rubbing movements of the glaciers during the Ice Age. The sand created in this way was carried into the area of the Kobuk Valley National Park by water and wind movements and has ensured that the southern part of the park is now almost completely covered with sand dunes. The most interesting are named Gerat Kobuk, Little Kobuk and Hunt River Dunes, as well as the Onion Portage sand dunes. They belong to a dune field, which is one of the few in the Arctic. Some of the dunes are up to 30 meters high.
In the area of the Kobuk Valley National Park, fossils of Ice Age mammals, among other things, were discovered in the permafrost soil and huge pieces of ice.
Those who would like to take a boat tour on the Kobuk River can do so. Guided rubber tub tours are offered on the leisurely river. So you can experience the coniferous forests and the species-rich fauna up close. Hiking or sleeping in tents is also offered here. You can of course also enjoy fishing or a dog sled ride.
Weather in the Kobuk Valley National Park
For those interested, information about the climate of the park is crucial. The park is in Alaska. Therefore it is clear that in the period from October to April the arctic weather dominates. Ice-cold winter temperatures must be expected here. Temperatures are well below zero every day and ice, wind and snow take care of the rest. You can’t get rid of these three components even in the summer months. The icy wind in particular can be very troubling for visitors.
June is typical for the area, but mostly unfamiliar to visitors. This month you have daylight all month long, even at night!
The climate is a bit milder in the summer months, but it doesn’t get really warm during this time either. As I said, the winters are even harder, around December 1st there is about an hour of light a day.
