'Denali National Park and Preserve' contains the tallest mountain in North America. Denali even has the highest visible base-to-summit elevation on Earth (approximately 5400 meters). The word "Denali" means "the high one" in the native Athabaskan language and refers to the mountain 'Denali' itself. The mountain was originally named 'Mount McKinley', after president William McKinley of Ohio in 1897. The park was established as 'Mount McKinley National Park' on February 26, 1917, but only a portion of Mount McKinley (not including the summit) was within the original park boundary. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. A separate 'Denali National Monument' was proclaimed by president Carter on December 1, 1978.
Denali is home to a variety of Alaskian birds and mammals, including grizzly bears and black bears. Herds of caribou roam throughout the park. Dall sheep are often seen on mountainsides, and moose feed on the aquatic plants of the small lakes and swamps. Despite human impact on the area, Denali accommodates gray wolf dens, both historic and active. Smaller animals, such as hoary marmots, arctic ground squirrels, beavers, pikas, and snowshoe hares are seen in abundance. Foxes, martens, lynx, wolverines also inhabit the park, but are more rarely seen due to their elusive natures. The park is also well known for its bird population.