NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska

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Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the park. A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas delivers information in support of education, Geoconservation, and integrated management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.

Rock outcrop in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska.

Introduction

Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR) is located north of the Arctic Circle and approximately 64 km (40 mi) north of the Seward Peninsula in the Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. Proclaimed as a national monument on December 1, 1978, CAKR encompasses about 262,679 hectares (649,096 acres) and forms 113 km (70 mi) of shoreline on the Chukchi Sea (National Park Service 2016). The monument contains archeological sites located along a succession of 114 lateral beach ridges adjacent to Krusenstern Lagoon that record the cultural history of communities dating back 5,000 years (Giddings and Anderson 1986; National Park Service 2016). Sites on the bluff behind the ridges may date back as far as 9,000 years ago. The landscape of CAKR is composed of barrier islands, lagoons, wetlands, coastal plain, and beaches that provide habitat for fish, marine mammals, and migratory birds.

Geologic Setting

The bedrock geology of CAKR is predominantly composed of sedimentary formations associated with the Ordovician–Devonian Baird Group, Devonian–Mississippian Endicott Group, and the Mississippian–Pennsylvanian Lisburne Group. Rocks of the Baird Group are exposed in the southern half of CAKR, while strata of the Endicott and Lisburne Groups outcrop in the northern half of the monument. The youngest bedrock units in the monument are the Cretaceous Okpikruak and Fortress Mountain Formations located in east-central CAKR. Younger Cenozoic surficial deposits consist of Pleistocene terrace deposits, Pleistocene to Holocene alluvium, and Holocene beach deposits.

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Geologic Resources Inventory

The Geologic Resources Inventory produces digital geologic maps and reports for more than 270 natural resource parks. The products listed below are currently available for this park, check back often for updates as many maps, reports, and posters are still in progress.

Scoping summaries are records of scoping meetings where NPS staff and local geologists determined the park’s geologic mapping plan and what content should be included in the report.

• Digital geologic maps include files for viewing in GIS software, a guide to using the data, and a document with ancillary map information. Newer products also include data viewable in Google Earth and online map services.
• Reports use the maps to discuss the park’s setting and significance, notable geologic features and processes, geologic resource management issues, and geologic history.
• Posters are a static view of the GIS data in PDF format. Newer posters include aerial imagery or shaded relief and other park information. They are also included with the reports.
• Projects list basic information about the program and all products available for a park.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 2764. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Soil Resources inventory

A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Cape Krusenstern National Monument and can be found on the NPS Data Store.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 2746. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Tundra and the rolling hills in Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska.

Related Links

Cape Krusenstern—Nature and Science

Cape Krusenstern—Photo Gallery

Cape Krusenstern—Park Home

NPS—Beaches and Coastal Landforms

NPS—Geologic Time

NPS—Geology

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys

Cape Krusenstern National Monument

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National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas

The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on geoheritage and geodiversity resources and values within the National Park System. This information supports science-based geoconservation and interpretation in the NPS, as well as STEM education in schools, museums, and field camps. The NPS Geologic Resources Division and many parks work with National and International geoconservation communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available.

NPS Geodiversity Atlas

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