Kluane / Wrangell–St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
Largest transboundary protected area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Straddling the borders of Yukon, Alaska, and British Columbia, this international park system spans both Canada and the United States. First recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and later extended in 1992 and 1994, it protects dramatic glacier and icefield landscapes and provides crucial habitat for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep. Covering 98,391.21 square kilometers—slightly smaller than South Korea—it is the world’s largest transboundary protected area.
The system includes four parks: Kluane National Park and Reserve in Canada; Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S.; and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia, which is managed with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. Among its notable features are the world’s largest non-polar icefield, the largest piedmont glacier (Malaspina Glacier), the longest interior valley glacier (Nabesna Glacier), and Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan, which at 5,959 meters is also North America’s second-highest.
The park system supports a wide range of wildlife, including grizzly bears, glacier bears, wolverines, caribou, marbled murrelets, and Kittlitz’s murrelet. It also hosts the world’s largest concentrated population of Dall sheep. Commercial fishing continues in parts of the system, such as Wrangell–St. Elias and Kluane, targeting salmon, Tanner crab, Red king crab, and Pacific halibut. Plant life includes white spruce, Alaska Nagoon berry, wedge-leaved primrose, and fragile sedge.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Canada and the United States
- Area
- 98,391.21 km2
- Governing Body
- Parks Canada, BC Parks, U.S. National Park Service
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The international system comprises parks located in two countries and three administrative regions: Kluane National Park and Reserve (Canada), Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve (U.S.), Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (U.S.), and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park (British Columbia, Canada). Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park is managed in cooperation with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. The total area of the site is 98391.21 square kilometres, just smaller than the country of South Korea.
Reader's Guide
The park system serves as an important habitat for many species including grizzly bears, glacier bears, wolverines, caribou, marbled murrelets, and Kittlitz's murrelet. It holds the largest concentrated population of Dall sheep in the world. The park system was previously used as a site for commercial fishing, targeting salmon, Tanner crab, Red king crab, and Pacific halibut, but commercial fishing activities have been phased out as of 2023. Plant species found within the park system include white spruce, Alaska Nagoon berry, wedge-leaved primrose, and fragile sedge. The site is home to the world's largest non-polar icefield, the largest piedmont glacier (Malaspina Glacier), the world's longest interior valley glacier (Nabesna Glacier), and Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan. It is the other U.S.–Canada World Heritage Site alongside Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park.
Did You Know?
- The park system is the largest transboundary protected area in the world.
- Mount Logan, at 5,959 m, is Canada's highest peak and North America's second-highest peak.
- Commercial fishing continues in parts of the park system, such as Wrangell–St. Elias and Kluane.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kluane / Wrangell–St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek?
It is an international park system spanning parts of Yukon, British Columbia, and Alaska that safeguards vast glacier and icefield landscapes. It holds the distinction of being the largest transboundary protected area on the planet.
How big is Kluane / Wrangell–St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek?
The protected area covers roughly 98,391 square kilometres, just a touch smaller than South Korea. That extraordinary scale is what earns it the title of the world's biggest transboundary park.
When did Kluane / Wrangell–St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek get its UNESCO designation?
UNESCO first inscribed the site in 1979, then expanded the listing twice—once in 1992 and again in 1994—to fold in additional parks on both sides of the border.
What wildlife can you find in Kluane / Wrangell–St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek?
The park system provides critical habitat for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep, among other species. Its remote, rugged terrain keeps much of that animal life undisturbed by development.
Which four parks make up Kluane / Wrangell–St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek?
The system is built from Kluane National Park and Reserve in Canada, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, and Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia.
More in World Heritage Sites in Canada 1-24
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