|
|||
Home
|
|||
Glacier National Park is located in Montana, on the Canada–United States border with the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1,000,000 acres and includes parts of two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), over 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants and hundreds of species of animals. Soon after the establishment of the park on May 11, 1910, a number of hotels and chalets were constructed by the Great Northern Railway. These historic hotels and chalets are listed as National Historic Landmarks, and a total of 350 locations are on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1932, work was completed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which provided greater accessibility for automobiles into the heart of the park. Two hundred waterfalls are scattered throughout the park. In the middle of the 19th century there were over 150 glaciers present. Currently there are only 25 left. It is expected that these will disappear in the next 7 years by 2020. For information about this beautiful but relatively unknown and unvisited park go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_National_Park_(U.S.) One of the many views in Glacier Some waterfalls are up close and personal The Highway to the Sun. The only way to get to East Glacier from West Glacier without going all the way around Glacier. Some even go under the road . This is the only section of the Going to the Sun road that is built out from the mountains. All the rest is cut into the mountain. When water does not fall straight down it is technically known as a cascade; but regardless, they are beautiful This hoary marmot kept us amused for several minutes. No, hoary does not refer to an occupation! The word "hoary" refers to the silver-gray fur on their shoulders and upper back; the remainder of the upper parts have drab- or reddish-brown fur. The head is black on the upper surface, with a white patch on the muzzle, white fur on the chin and around the lips, and grizzled black or brown fur elsewhere. The feet and lower legs are black, sometimes with white patches on the fore feet. Marmots have long guard hairs that provide most of the visible color of their pelage, and a dense, soft underfur that provides insulation. The greyish underparts of the body lack this underfur, and are more sparsely haired than the rest of the body. Hoary marmots molt in the early to mid summer so this one was looking a bit ragged. (Thanks to Wikipedia)
Scavenging for food can be exhausting. Time for a nap. This mountain goat mom and her kid were just hangin' out, enjoying the sun when we went by. Red and green argillite stone used in a wall. Argillite is a stone created from clay. Similar to slate. It is also called mudstone. The bright red or green colors are caused by iron deposits that got mixed into the clay. If the mix was exposed to oxygen it turn the iron red (iron oxide or rust). The green ones were formed if the iron was not exposed to oxygen. I initially guessed a copper base for them but research indicates unoxidized iron. This is McDonald Creek in West Glacier.
Nope, no Golden Arches here!
Lake McDonald. It is located downstream from the above photos. The Red Buses. Glacier Park has 33 of them. There
were built in the 1930 's by the White Motor Company and were used up until 1999. Concerns about safety, metal fatigue,
brakes, etc. caused this retirement. Ford, who finds White Motor Co. in its pedigree obtained these retired busses
and refurnished then to modern standards and donated them back to the park.
Key changes made to the Red Buses include:
|
|||
|