World Heritage Identification Number: 72
World Heritage since: 1979
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: Yes
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: Canada, United States of America
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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Transboundary Natural Legacy: Kluane, Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay, and Tatshenshini-Alsek
The transboundary Kluane/Wrangell-St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek (KWGT) is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans across four distinct regions – Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon, Canada; Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, USA; Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve also in Alaska, USA; and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. This expansive protected area, covering approximately 94,000 square kilometers, was inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 1979.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
These parks comprise an impressive complex of glaciers and high peaks on both sides of the border between Canada (Yukon Territory and British Columbia) and the United States (Alaska). The spectacular natural landscapes are home to many grizzly bears, caribou and Dall's sheep. The site contains the largest non-polar icefield in the world.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (vii): The joint properties encompass the breadth of active tectonic, volcanic, glacial and fluvial natural processes from the ocean to some of the highest peaks in North America. Coastal and marine environments, snow-capped mountains, calving glaciers, deep river canyons, fjord-like inlets and abundant wildlife abound. It is an area of exceptional natural beauty.
Criterion (viii): These tectonically active joint properties feature continuous mountain building and contain outstanding examples of major ongoing geologic and glacial processes. Over 200 glaciers in the ice-covered central plateau combine to form some of the world’s largest and longest glaciers, several of which stretch to the sea. The site displays a broad range of glacial processes, including world-class depositional features and classic examples of moraines, hanging valleys, and other geomorphological features.
Criterion (ix): The influence of glaciation at a landscape level has led to a similarly broad range of stages in ecological succession related to the dynamic movements of glaciers. Subtly different glacial environments and landforms have been concentrated within the property by the sharp temperature and precipitation variation between the coast and interior basins. There is a rich variety of terrestrial and coastal/marine environments with complex and intricate mosaics of life at various successional stages from 500 m below sea level to 5000 m above.
Criterion (x): Wildlife species common to Alaska and Northwestern Canada are well represented, some in numbers exceeded nowhere else. The marine components support a great variety of fauna including marine mammals and anadromous fish, the spawning of which is a key ecological component linking the sea to the land through the large river systems. Populations of bears, wolves, caribou, salmon, Dall sheep and mountain goats that are endangered elsewhere are self-regulating here. This is one of the few places remaining in the world where ecological processes are governed by natural stresses and the evolutionary changes in a glacial and ecological continuum.
Encyclopedia Record: Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park
Tatshenshini-Alsek Park or Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Wilderness Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. The park is 9,580 km2 (3,700 sq mi) in size. It was established in 1993 after an intensive campaign by Canadian and American conservation organizations to halt mining exploration and development in the area, and protect the area for its strong natural heritage and biodiversity values.Additional Site Details
Area: 9,839,121 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(viii) — Outstanding example representing major earth stages
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 61.19758333 , -140.9919722
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Kluane / Wrangell-St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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From Alaska to Argentina and back: migration routes, migration timing, and wintering areas of adult male Swainson’s Thrushes ( Catharus ustulatus ) from breeding areas in interior Alaska
Adult male Swainson’s Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) from interior Alaska complete among the longest round-trip migrations of any North American migratory passerine, traveling from their breeding grounds to wintering areas in South America and back. This study reveals that these birds exhibit a leapfrog migration pattern, wintering farther south than those from more southern latitudes, and use distinct routes during autumn and spring migrations. Using archival light-level geolocators and GPS loggers, researchers tracked 16 individuals, documenting their cross-continental migration across Canada, stopover behaviors, and wintering areas in Colombia and Argentina. Autumn migration begins by early September, with birds arriving on their wintering grounds by mid-November, while spring migration starts in late February, culminating in their return to breeding grounds by late May. The findings highlight the importance of forested landscapes across their annual range.
McIntyre, C., Stenhouse, I., Adams, E., Gilbert, A., Boelsma, J., Gress, G., Grigsby, C., Reppert, J., Phillips, L., Williams, E., & Weidensaul, S. (2026). From Alaska to Argentina and back: migration routes, migration timing, and wintering areas of adult male Swainson’s Thrushes ( Catharus ustulatus ) from breeding areas in interior Alaska. Avian Conservation and Ecology, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/ace-03016-210111
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Deoxygenation in the Equatorial Panthalassan Ocean Predated the End-Triassic Mass Extinction
A groundbreaking study reveals that deoxygenation in the equatorial Panthalassan Ocean began well before the end-Triassic mass extinction, challenging previous assumptions about the timing and causes of this critical event. Researchers analyzed stratigraphic, biostratigraphic, and geochemical data from the Grotto Creek section in Alaska, spanning the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period. The dataset includes high-resolution measurements of organic carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) as well as iron speciation, providing a detailed record of oceanic conditions during this pivotal interval. Samples were collected from Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, offering unique insights into the environmental changes that preceded one of Earth's most significant mass extinctions.
McCabe, K., & Gill, B. (2026). Deoxygenation in the Equatorial Panthalassan Ocean Predated the End-Triassic Mass Extinction [Dataset]. figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.31286599
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Hydrometeorological and Topographic Controls on Rock Glacier Kinematics: A Case Study From Southeastern Alaska
A study of seven active rock glaciers in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, Alaska, reveals that hydrological and thermal controls govern their spatial variability in kinematics. Rock glaciers exposed to greater solar radiation and warmer subsurface conditions exhibit enhanced meltwater infiltration and stronger seasonal deformation, while colder, shaded sites remain relatively stable. The research used multi-temporal Sentinel-1 InSAR data from 2018 to 2022, combined with Independent Component Analysis (ICA), hydraulic modeling, and thermal simulations to separate long-term trends from seasonal signals. This approach highlights the sensitivity of permafrost landforms to ongoing climate change, offering insights into their response to hydrometeorological factors.
Sui, Q., Lu, Z., Meng, T. M., Kim, J., Higman, B., Dai, C., Budukumah, E. J., McColl, S., Howat, I., Hults, C., Karanam, V., & Liang, K. (2026). Hydrometeorological and Topographic Controls on Rock Glacier Kinematics: A Case Study From Southeastern Alaska. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 131(4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jf008895
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Projections of 21st-century glacier change in Alaska’s national parks calibrated against spatially distributed elevation change observations
Alaska's national parks, including Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek, face significant glacier mass loss by the end of the century, with projections ranging from 28% to 99% depending on the subregion and emissions scenario. This study introduces a novel Bayesian inference framework that calibrates the Python Glacier Evolution Model (PyGEM) against spatially distributed surface elevation change data, reducing parameter uncertainty by 5–18% and lowering mean absolute error in hindcast surface elevation change by 0.18 m per year. Using airborne laser altimetry records from 1994 to 2021 for 185 glaciers—representing over half of the region’s glacier area—the model estimates mass loss between 43% and 67%, with substantial variability across subregions such as Lake Clark, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Glacier Bay, and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This framework offers a flexible approach to refine projections as additional elevation change datasets become available.
Tober, B. S., Rounce, D. R., Brinkerhoff, D. J., Loso, M. G., Schmitt, P., & Maussion, F. (2026). Projections of 21st-century glacier change in Alaska’s national parks calibrated against spatially distributed elevation change observations. Journal of Glaciology, 72. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2026.10186
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‘Archeology on Ice: Interior Alaska, USA’
Alpine glaciers and ice fields in the Alaska Range, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek, have yielded significant archaeological discoveries, including preserved artifacts from early human activity. The exhibit 'Archeology on Ice' showcases these findings at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, a strategic location near North America's earliest archaeological sites. The research approach involves systematic exploration of ice patches and glaciers, revealing insights into past human behavior and environmental interactions. This exhibit serves as an educational platform to share these discoveries with both academic and general audiences.
Sattler, R. A. (2026). ‘Archeology on Ice: Interior Alaska, USA’. Journal of Glacial Archaeology, 8, 114–117. https://doi.org/10.1558/jga.36077
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Glacier monitoring in the Central Alaska Network: Protocol narrative, version 1.0
Rapid glacier changes in Alaska's national parks, driven by warming air temperatures, are being systematically monitored through the Central Alaska Network (CAKN) protocol. This long-term monitoring program, initiated in 1991, tracks mass balance, surface elevation, and boundaries of key glaciers—such as Kahiltna and Kennicott—in Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. The protocol combines glaciological and geodetic methods with remote sensing to document seasonal and interannual changes in snow accumulation and melt, providing insights into climatic forces shaping these vital ice masses. Additionally, it extends glacier inventory efforts every decade and measures surface elevations of major glaciers every 4-6 years, building on data from Operation IceBridge since the mid-1990s. These efforts are critical for understanding impacts on park ecosystems, visitor safety, and downstream marine environments.
Loso, M. (2025). Glacier monitoring in the Central Alaska Network: Protocol narrative, version 1.0 (, Ed.). National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2308209
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The demise of the world's largest piedmont glacier: a probabilistic forecast
Sít' Tlein, the world's largest piedmont glacier spanning Alaska and Yukon, is projected to undergo significant mass loss due to climate imbalance. Using a data-constrained dynamical modeling approach, researchers forecasted that if current surface mass balance levels persist, Sít' Tlein could lose 323–444 km³ of ice by 2073 and 546–728 km³ by 2173. If historical trends continue, losses could reach 383–505 km³ by 2073 and 740–900 km³ by 2173. The study quantifies uncertainty using Bayesian methods, revealing that the glacier's piedmont lobe is likely to disappear over centuries, leading to substantial landscape and ecosystem changes.
Brinkerhoff, D. J., Tober, B. S., Daniel, M., Devaux-Chupin, V., Christoffersen, M. S., Holt, J. W., Larsen, C. F., Fahnestock, M., Loso, M. G., Timm, K. M. F., Mitchell, R. C., & Truffer, M. (2025). The demise of the world’s largest piedmont glacier: a probabilistic forecast. The Cryosphere, 19(6), 2321–2353. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-2321-2025
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