The park encompasses more than 6 million acres in a complete sub-arctic ecosystem. It features North America’s highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley. The aurora is a beautiful, phenomenon, occurring year-round. Only in the fall, winter and early spring, is there enough darkness to allow us to see the northern lights when they occur. The aurora borealis occurs when a coronal mass ejection, a massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields, interacts with elements in the earth’s atmosphere. Coronal mass ejections are often associated with other forms of solar activity, most notably solar flares.

credit: DenaliNPS

The cruiser Aurora was built between 1897 and 1900 in St. Petersburg and joined Russia’s Baltic fleet in 1903. The ship measures 126.8 meters in length, 16.8 meters in width and weighs a staggering 7,600 tons. Maintaining a speed of 20 knots it can travel independently for up to 1,440 sea miles. It took an active part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and participated in the Tsusima battle, in which most of Russia’s Pacific fleet was destroyed. After the war the ship was used for personnel training and during the October revolution of 1917 gave the signal by firing a blank shot to storm of the Winter Palace, which was being used as a residence by the democratic, but largely ineffective Provisional Government. That moment triggered a dramatic episode in Russia’s history and was the start of over 70 years of Communist leadership.

credit: Dennis Jarvis

credit: michael clarke stuff

credit: michael clarke stuff

credit: Dennis Jarvis

credit: Jim Kelly

credit: Mussels

credit: Mussels

credit: Mussels

credit: Mussels

credit: Mussels

credit: Mussels

credit: Mussels