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Olympic National Park
The Fraser Glaciation
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![An aerial photo of gravel bars along the Elwha River An aerial photo of gravel bars along the Elwha River](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513114259im_/http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/images/AerialElwhaRiverGravelBars220.jpg) |
NPS | An aerial photo of gravel bars along the Elwha River including Krause Bottom and present day Humes Ranch |
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The Beginning:
During the Fraser Glaciation, which occurred between 25,000 and 10,000 years ago, sheets of ice up to 5,000 feet thick covered current day Elwha area. Though it is uncertain as to how the area looked prior to the glacial retreat, striations in bedrock and deposited boulders give a clue as to the approximate path by which the ice moved.
As the glaciers receded, they carved through the land, creating troughs between the mountains and leaving behind streams from which water flowed in route to the ocean. When the ice retreated from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, fish began to recolonize the 70 miles of pristine aquatic habitat which was named the Elwha by the native inhabitants of the land who came many years later.
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![The Elwha River The Elwha River](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513114259im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/OLYM_elwhariverscottchurchhighlight.gif) Historic Fish Runs in the Elwha Click here to learn more about historic fish runs before dam construction! more... | |
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![View of the Elwha Valley View of the Elwha Valley](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513114259im_/http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/OLYM_OLYM_elwhaview7.jpg) |
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Did You Know?
Did you know that in 1988, Congress designated 95% of Olympic National Park as Wilderness. The Olympic Wilderness is a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
more...
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Last Updated: February 10, 2009 at 14:38 EST |