Reading the Land -- Dalton Hwy MP 20.7, Yukon-Koyokuk Borough, AK USA - Flora and Fauna Information Signs on Waymarking.com

This flora and fauna information sign discusses the how to understand the varied landscapes along the Dalton Highway. It is located at milepost 20.7 along the highway at a new pullout created by the Alaska Department of Transportation to educate travelers along the Dalton Highway of the varied landscapes and why they are ever-changing.

The sign reads as follows:

"READING THE LANDSCAPE

Fire – The Key to Change

In the distance you can see the effects of the 50,000 acre Hess Creek fire of 1991. By removing the trees in the insulating mat of vegetation, fires help expose the upper layers of permafrost of the sun’s warmth. Fire also releases nitrogen and other nutrients stored in trees and returns them to the soil. Following fire, herbs and grasses began to grow, followed by shrubs and trees. Warmth–loving trees such as birch and aspen can then grow in areas that once only supported spruce.

The boreal forest is not a uniform blanket of trees - stunted spruce alternate with tall aspens and open areas. Differences in sunlight and permafrost helped create this patchwork of plants. The sun is never directly overhead in the far north. Its warming rays hit south-facing slopes more directly than north-facing slopes and flat areas. In cooler areas, permafrost, or permanently frozen soil, is more commonly found. Each summer the top layer of soil thoughts, allowing roots to take hold. But below this the ground stays frozen.

1. South-facing slopes
The direct sunlight thaws a deep layer on south-facing slopes. These warmer soils support white spruce, birch and aspen.

2. Ridge tops
Ridge tops receive lots of sun and have drier, warmer soils. They are often capped with stands of birch and aspen.

3. North-facing slopes
The soils on north-facing slopes are colder and wetter, with permafrost close to the surface. In many places, only the hardy black spruce can survive.

4. Burned areas
Fires warm the soil by removing shade producing trees and insulating mats of moss and lichen. Burned areas have a deeper thought layer. Aspens and birch, trees that like warmer, drier soils, flourish here until the permafrost approaches the surface again.

5. Low-lying areas
As the low-angled rays of the sun flood across flat terrain, the warmth and energy of the rays are dispersed over a large area. Here, permafrost is close to the surface and allows little room for root growth in the cold, wet soil. Black spruce is one of the few trees that can survive these harsh conditions.

6. Stream sides
Because water has a great ability to retain heat, permafrost is often further from the surface or absent near stream. White spruce and poplar thrive on these warmer, well-drained soils. They form ribbons of lush, tall growth that meander through box and the surrounding stunted forest."

Visit Instructions:
Take a photo of yourself (and others) at the waymark and feel free to share any additional information or that is not contained on the sign or your experience generally.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/01/2022 Benchmark Blasterz visited it