Ahklun Mountains
| Ahklun Mountains | |
|---|---|
View of the Ahklun Mountains reflected in a mirror-smooth glacial lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1204 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 80 mi (130 km) |
| Width | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Range coordinates | 59°23′0″N 160°42′0″W / 59.38333°N 160.70000°WCoordinates: 59°23′0″N 160°42′0″W / 59.38333°N 160.70000°W |
| Parent range | Kuskokwim Mountains |
The Ahklun Mountains are located in the northeast section of the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Alaska. They extend southwest from the Kanektok and Narogurum Rivers to Hagemeister Strait and Kuskokwim Bay and support the only existing glaciers in western Alaska. They are the highest Alaskan mountain range west of the Alaska Range and north of the Alaska Peninsula: some summits in the range have many glaciers. To the west is the Kuskokwim River and to the east are the Bristol Bay lowlands.
The Ahklun Mountains have many lakes, some more than 1,300 feet (400 m) deep. The mountains cover approximately 80 percent of the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge also contains tundra and coastal plains.
The Ahklun Mountains are dominated by alpine tundra, heath, and barrens, while moist sedge-tussock meadows occur in valley bottoms. Black spruce forest occurs on some hills and ridges. Forests of white spruce, paper birch, and alder cover the low hills along the major rivers.Blackpoll warblers are common breeders in conifer stands in river valleys. Beaver are abundant, supporting a large annual harvest. Sockeye salmon are the most abundant fish. Chum, king, silver salmon, and rainbow trout are also numerous. The average annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 25 inches (480 to 640 mm), while the average annual temperature ranges from 29 to 33 °F (−2 to 1 °C). The growing season extends approximately from May 15 to September 10.
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Wikipedia