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      Biosphere Reserve Information
     

United States of America

GLACIER

 
       
  General Description   Glacier Biosphere Reserve and National Park is situated in northwestern Montana in the northern Rocky Mountains and adjacent to the Canadian Waterton Biosphere Reserve. In 1932, Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park were designated as Wateron-Glacier International Peace Park to celebrate the longstanding peace between the two nations. Glacier and Waterton have both been designated as biosphere reserves and as a single World Heritage Site.
Pleistocene glaciation has resulted in a spectacular glaciated landscape with horn-shaped peaks, broad u-shaped valleys, hanging valleys, and glacial lakes. The last major glacial retreat was about 10,000 years ago, but some 50-60 small glaciers of more recent origin remain. The biosphere reserve comprises the watersheds of three ocean systems, Hudson Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. There are wide variations in elevation and climate, which lead to a wide diversity of vegetation types. Ecosystems range from the extensive boreal forests west of the divide, to the semi-arid foothills of the Rockies in the east.
Airborne pollution from a nearby aluminium plant, logging, poaching, mineral and energy development as well as recreational activities affect natural ecosystems in the area. Research projects aim to establish criteria for conservation, management and restoration of natural ecosystems and threatened species. Current studies of both biosphere reserves focus on ecology of gray wolf, grizzly bear, mountain goats and wintering ungulates.
  Major ecosystem type   Mixed mountain and highland systems
  Major habitats & land cover types  
  Location   48°15' to 49°00'N; 113°15' to 114°30'W
  Area (hectares)    
  Total   410,056
  Core area(s)   410,056
  Buffer zone(s)   -
  Transition area(s) when given   -
  Altitude (metres above sea level)   +972 to +3,185
  Year designated   1976
  Administrative authorities   Glacier National Park National Park Service
 
  Brief description   Global climate change
Population monitoring using DNA
Ecosystem modeling
Rare/endangered species
Fire history and effects
  Specific variables...    
  Abiotic   Climate, global change.
  Biodiversity   Fires/fire ecology, methodologies, modelling, population genetics/population dynamics, rare/endangered/threatened species.
  Socio-economic   n.a.
  Integrated monitoring   n.a.
 
  Contact address   Pete Hart
Glacier National Park

59936 West Glacier, Montana
United States of America
  Telephone   (1.406) 888 7913
  Fax   (1.406) 888 7808
  E-mail   GLAC_Superintendent@nps.gov
  Web site   www.nps.gov/glac/
 
  Contact address   Brace Hayden
Glacier National Park

59936 West Glacier, Montana
United States of America
  Telephone   (1.406) 888 7913
  Fax   (1.406) 888 7946
  E-mail   brace_hayden@nps.gov
  Web site   www.nps.gov/glac/
 
 
   


Last updated: 11/03/2005

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