The 3,700 Year Old Volcanic Crater In Alaska That’s A National Natural Landmark

One of Alaska's most vast and untouched places, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve contains a massive volcanic crater that's 3,700 years old. Check this out!

The Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve is one of the least-visited places in all of the national parks. It's located on the peninsula, 450 miles from Anchorage.

One of the few ways to reach the 601,294-acre preserve is by floatplane. Difficult weather prevents visitation any time other than during summer months.

The main attraction at this place is the immense caldera. An immense volcanic eruption created this caldera 3,700 years ago.

The massive caldera is six miles wide and 2,500 feet deep.

The beautiful, crystal-clear Surprise Lake occupies a portion of the caldera.

Experienced river runners can attempt the Aniakchak river, which starts at the lake and ends 37 miles later at Aniakchak Bay. Class IV whitewater is common throughout the river, which should only be attempted in July.

Bears are common throughout the national preserve. The foraging is plentiful, and the bears have access to lots of salmon. You'll want to take extra precautions to avoid bear encounters while visiting this wild place.

A trip to this remote, isolated place is truly a trip of a lifetime. It's a chance to see Alaska in its most untouched form.

For more information about visiting the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, visit the National Park's website.

Have you had the opportunity to visit this majestic place? Tell us about your trip!

To see more of Alaska's natural beauty, without even leaving your house, take a look at this stunning drone footage.