Bering Land Bridge National Preserve

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, national preserve established in 1980, originally a national monument proclaimed in 1978. Located in northwest Alaska on the tundra of the Seward Peninsula, the preserve features the remains of a land bridge that once connected the continents of Asia and North America. Called Beringia, the “bridge” was a large plain that was 1,600 km (1,000 mi) wide in parts about 13,000 years ago. This land bridge was exposed when earth’s water froze into glacial masses, causing the sea level to fall. When glaciers melted about 10,000 years ago, the sea level rose and covered up the land bridge. The two continents are presently separated by 82 km (51 mi) of the Bering Strait. The preserve contains craters and lava flows. Sea mammals, such as whales, seals, and walruses, live in the preserve as well as reindeer, bears, wolves, and musk ox. The region also supports about 400 species of plants and more than 150 species of birds. Administered by the National Park Service. Area, 1,091,596 hectares (2,697,393 acres).