NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK

national park in northwestern Washington, U.S. The park was established in 1968 to preserve majestic mountain scenery, snowfields, glaciers, alpine meadows, and other unique natural features in the northern part of the Cascade Range. Formed of durable granites and related rocks, the northern Cascades have elevations mostly between 8,000 and 9,000 feet (2,440 and 2,740 m). The Ross Lake National Recreation Area separates the park into two sections, the northern unit extending to the Canadian border and the southern unit adjoining the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The park covers an area of 789 square miles (2,043 square km).