Helena National Forest

	Helena National Forest IUCN Category VI - Protected Area with Sustainable use of Natural Resources
	The Gates of the Mountains , part of the Helena National Forest
location	Montana , USA
surface	3,984.36 km² system
Geographical location	46 ° 35 ' N , 111 ° 50' W Coordinates: 46 ° 35 '0 " N , 111 ° 50' 0" W
Setup date	April 12, 1906
administration	US Forest Service

The Helena National Forest is a national forest located in central Montana . The approximately 4,000 km² forest consists of various sub-areas, which are located around the federal capital Helena .

Flora and fauna

The flatter areas of the national forest consist of grasslands, which also contain various Artemisia species . As the altitude increases, there are small forests of coastal pine , Douglas fir and spruce . The upper regions of the National Forest (up to 3,000 m) belong to the Rocky Mountains and are sparsely overgrown.

The larger animal species in the area include grizzly bears , wolves and elk . Bald eagles also breed here .

Wilderness Areas

The Helena National Forest has four total reserves that are designated as Wilderness Area :

history

In the summer of 1805 the area was crossed by the Lewis and Clark expedition .

The landscape was declared a National Forest on April 12, 1906. In the course of time its area was expanded more and more. In 1908 the Elkhorn Mountains were added. In 2015 the Helena National Forest was merged with the Lewis and Clark National Forest .

On August 5, 1949, 13 firefighters died in a forest fire in the Helena National Forest. The as Mann Gulch fire ( man Gulch Fire hereinafter) fire heard by the book "Young Men in the Fire" by Norman Maclean of the most famous fires in the United States.