Established on December 2, 1980, the park is located on the Alaska Peninsula, across from Kodiak Island, with headquarters in nearby King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Originally, on September 24, 1918, the area was designated a national monument to protect the area around the major 1912 volcanic eruption of Novarupta, which formed the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
There are at least fourteen active volcanoes within the national park. Katmai is also well known for brown bears and the salmon which attract both bears and people. Bears are especially likely to congregate at Brooks Falls, where there is a viewing platform. Many well known photographs of brown bears have been taken at Brooks Falls.
See also: National parks (United States)
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