The rocky course of Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park, MT
About this photograph
- Creator
- Margery H. Freeman
- Date created
- May 1989
- Location
- Glacier National Park, Montana
- License
- This photograph copyright ©1989. All Rights Reserved
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Learn more
- Search LEARN NC for American Indians, Avalanche Creek, Cedar, continental divide, creeks, forests, glacier, Glacier National Park, hemlock, Montana, MT, national parks, Northern Rocky Mountains, Pacific Coast forest, Rocky Mountains, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
In the classroom
- See our collection of articles on visual literacy for ideas on using photographs meaningfully in the classroom.
The rocky course of Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park, Montana. Avalanche Creek marks the easternmost edge of moisture-loving forests. Cedars, hemlocks, and several other species more common to Pacific Coast forests can be found here despite the inland location, as the peaks of the Continental Divide, just east of the creek, create an orthographic effect that draws a great deal of water from passing clouds.
The park protects over one million acres of land in the Northern Rocky Mountains, from lakes and valleys formed by glaciers to forests, alpine meadows, and rugged peaks. It is known to Native Americans as the “Backbone of the World.” It is home to over 70 species of mammals and hosts 260 species of birds throughout the year. Its name comes from its glacier-carved scenery and the glaciers that remain today. The area was designated as the country’s 10th national park in 1910 by President Taft, which protected it from mining and homesteading. Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park, located just over the border in Canada, were designated the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932, which celebrates the peace between the two nations.
