Located in south-central Alaska, Denali is the highest point in North America and third highest of the Seven Summits. It reaches a peak of 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) above sea level.
The mountain has been a tourist destination since the early 1900s. Over 400,000 visitors come here annually to experience the breathtaking landscape.
At a height of 20,310 feet, Denali is the highest point in the United States and is part of the 600-mile-long Alaska Range. The mountains here formed when tectonic uplift forced Earth’s crust upwards over 60 million years ago.
Its name is derived from the Athabascan word “Denali,” which means the High One, or tallest of the mountains. The name was officially changed to “Mount McKinley” in 1917 but is still commonly known as Denali.
A large portion of the park is protected as Denali National Park and Preserve, which spans 2.4 million acres (about six million hectares).
The tallest mountain in the Alaska Range has been a popular destination for outdoor recreation and tourism since the early 1900s. The mountain is home to many glaciers and ice-covered summits, which provide tourists with breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains.
It is very difficult to climb the mountain, and most people have failed to reach the top. The first attempt to summit Denali was made in 1903 by James Wickersham, a judge who lived in Eagle.
The first successful ascent was made in 1913 by Hudson Stuck, Walter Harper, Harry Karstens and Robert Tatum. The group reached the summit via a safer and more popular route, the West Buttress route.