Nature of America
The sheets
Table:
Ecosystem
Date of issue
Place of issue
No. stamps
in sheet
Face Value
Printer

Sonoran Desert

April 6, 1999

Tucson, Arizona[5]

10

33¢

Banknote Corporation of America[12]

Pacific Coast Rain Forest

March 28, 2000

Seattle, Washington [13]

10

33¢

Banknote Corporation of America[14]

Great Plains Prairie

March 29, 2001

Lincoln, Nebraska [15]

10

34¢

Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd[16]

Longleaf Pine Forest[17]

April 26, 2002

Tallahassee, Florida [18]

10

34¢

American Packaging Corp. for Sennet Security[19]

Arctic Tundra

July 1, 2003

Fairbanks, Alaska[20]

10

37¢

Banknote Corporation of America [21]

Pacific Coral Reef[22]

Jan 2, 2004

Honolulu, Hawaii[23]

10

37¢

Avery Dennison[24]

Northeast Deciduous Forest

March 3, 2005

New York, New York[25]

10

37¢

Avery Dennison[26]

Southern Florida Wetland[27]

October 5, 2006

Naples, Florida [28]

10

39¢

Avery Dennison[29]

Alpine Tundra

August 28, 2007

Estes Park, Colorado [30]

10

41¢

Sennett Security Products[31]

Great Lakes Dunes

October 2, 2008

Empire, Michigan [32]

10

42¢

Avery Dennison[33]

Kelp Forest[34]

October 1, 2009

Monterey, California [35]

10

44¢

Avery Dennison[36]

Hawaiian Rain Forest[6]

September 1, 2010

Hawaii National Park[37]

10

44¢

Banknote Corporation of America, Inc[37]

Looking at the table along with the supporting evidence listed at the end.

State the answer to the question: What ecosystem was on the stamps issued in the city with the founding campus of the University of Alaska system ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

The Sonoran Desert ( Spanish : Desierto de Sonora ) is a North American desert which covers large parts of the Southwestern United States in Arizona and California and of Northwestern Mexico in Sonora , Baja California , and Baja California Sur . It is the hottest desert in Mexico . It has an area of 260,000 square kilometers ( 100,000 sq mi ) . The western portion of the United States-Mexico border passes through the Sonoran Desert . In phytogeography , the Sonoran Desert is within the Sonoran Floristic Province of the Madrean Region in southwestern North America , part of the Holarctic Kingdom of the northern Western Hemisphere . The desert contains a variety of unique and endemic plants and animals , such as the saguaro ( Carnegiea gigantea ) and organ pipe cactus ( Stenocereus thurberi ) . The name sonoran means full of sound .
Tucson ( /ˈtuːsɒn , tuːˈsɒn/ ) is a city in and the county seat of Pima County , Arizona , United States , and is home to the University of Arizona . The 2010 United States Census put the population at 520,116 , while the 2015 estimated population of the entire Tucson metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) was 980,263 . The Tucson MSA forms part of the larger Tucson-Nogales combined statistical area ( CSA ) , with a total population of 1,010,025 as of the 2010 Census . Tucson is the second most-populated city in Arizona behind Phoenix , both of which anchor the Arizona Sun Corridor . The city is 108 miles ( 174 km ) southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi ( 97 km ) north of the U.S.-Mexico border . Tucson is the 33rd largest city and the 58th largest metropolitan area in the United States ( 2014 ) . Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city , Sahuarita south of the city , and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown . Communities in the vicinity of Tucson ( some within or overlapping the city limits ) include Casas Adobes , Catalina Foothills , Flowing Wells , Midvale Park , Tanque Verde , Tortolita , and Vail . Towns outside the Tucson metro area include Benson to the southeast , Catalina and Oracle to the north , and Green Valley to the south . Tucson was founded as a military fort by the Spanish when Hugo O'Conor authorized the construction of Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón . It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821 . The United States acquired Tucson via treaty from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase on June 8 , 1854 .
A country 's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean .
Rainforests are forests characterized by high and continuous rainfall , with annual rainfall in the case of tropical rainforests between 2.5 and 4.5 metres ( 98 and 177 in ) and definitions varying by region for temperate rainforests . The monsoon trough , alternatively known as the intertropical convergence zone , plays a significant role in creating the climatic conditions necessary for the Earth 's tropical rainforests : which are distinct from monsoonal areas of seasonal tropical forest . Estimates vary from 40% to 75% of all biotic species are indigenous to the rainforests . There may be many millions of species of plants , insects and microorganisms still undiscovered in tropical rainforests . Tropical rainforests have been called the jewels of the Earth and the world 's largest pharmacy , because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered there . Rainforests are also responsible for 28% of the world 's oxygen turnover , sometimes misnamed oxygen production , processing it through photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and consuming it through respiration . The undergrowth in some areas of a rainforest can be restricted by poor penetration of sunlight to ground level . If the leaf canopy is destroyed or thinned , the ground beneath is soon colonized by a dense , tangled growth of vines , shrubs and small trees , called a jungle . The term jungle is also sometimes applied to tropical rainforests generally . Rainforests as well as endemic rainforest species are rapidly disappearing due to deforestation , the resulting habitat loss and pollution of the atmosphere .
Seattle ( /siˈætəl/ ( listen ) see-AT-əl ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States . It is the seat of King County , Washington . With an estimated 744,955 residents as of 2018 [ update ] , Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America . According to U.S. Census data released in 2018 , the Seattle metropolitan area 's population stands at 3.94 million , and ranks as the 15th largest in the United States . In July 2013 , it was the fastest-growing major city in the United States and remained in the top 5 in May 2015 with an annual growth rate of 2.1% . In July 2016 , Seattle was again the fastest-growing major U.S. city , with a 3.1% annual growth rate . Seattle is the northernmost large city in the United States . The city is situated on an isthmus between Puget Sound ( an inlet of the Pacific Ocean ) and Lake Washington , about 100 miles ( 160 km ) south of the Canada-United States border . A major gateway for trade with Asia , Seattle is the fourth-largest port in North America in terms of container handling as of 2015 [ update ] . The Seattle area was inhabited by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years before the first permanent European settlers . Arthur A. Denny and his group of travelers , subsequently known as the Denny Party , arrived from Illinois via Portland , Oregon , on the schooner Exact at Alki Point on November 13 , 1851 . The settlement was moved to the eastern shore of Elliott Bay and named Seattle in 1852 , in honor of Chief Si'ahl of the local Duwamish and Suquamish tribes .
The Great Plains ( sometimes simply the Plains ) is a broad expanse of flat land ( a plain ) , much of it covered in prairie , steppe , and grassland , located in the United States and Canada . It lies west of the Mississippi River tallgrass prairie in the United States and east of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. and Canada . It encompasses :
Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands , savannas , and shrublands biome by ecologists , based on similar temperate climates , moderate rainfall , and a composition of grasses , herbs , and shrubs , rather than trees , as the dominant vegetation type . Temperate grassland regions include the Pampas of Argentina , Brazil and Uruguay , and the steppe of Ukraine , Russia and Kazakhstan . Lands typically referred to as prairie tend to be in North America . The term encompasses the area referred to as the Interior Lowlands of Canada , the United States , and Mexico , which includes all of the Great Plains as well as the wetter , hillier land to the east . In the U.S. , the area is constituted by most or all of the states of North Dakota , South Dakota , Nebraska , Kansas , and Oklahoma , and sizable parts of the states of Montana , Wyoming , Colorado , New Mexico , Texas , Missouri , Iowa , Illinois , Indiana , Wisconsin , and western and southern Minnesota . The Palouse of Washington and the Central Valley of California are also prairies . The Canadian Prairies occupy vast areas of Manitoba , Saskatchewan , and Alberta .
Lincoln is the capital of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County . The city covers 96.194 square miles ( 249.141 km2 ) with a population of 287,401 in 2018 . It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 70th-largest in the United States . The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the state called the Lincoln Metropolitan and Lincoln-Beatrice Combined Statistical Areas . The statistical area is home to 356,083 people , making it the 105th-largest combined statistical area in the United States . The city was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster on the wild salt marshes of what was to become Lancaster County . In 1869 , the village of Lancaster became Nebraska 's state capital and was renamed Lincoln . The Bertram G. Goodhue-designed state capitol building was completed in 1932 and is the second tallest capitol in the United States . As the city is the seat of government for the state of Nebraska , the state and the United States government are major employers . The University of Nebraska was founded in Lincoln in 1869 . The university is the largest in Nebraska with 26,079 students enrolled and is the city 's third-largest employer . Other primary employers fall within the service and manufacturing industries , including a growing high-tech sector .
The longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris ) is a pine native to the Southeastern United States , found along the coastal plain from East Texas to southern Maryland , extending into northern and central Florida . It reaches a height of 30-35 m ( 98-115 ft ) and a diameter of 0.7 m ( 28 in ) . In the past , before extensive logging , they reportedly grew to 47 m ( 154 ft ) with a diameter of 1.2 m ( 47 in ) . The tree is a cultural symbol of the Southern United States , being the official state tree of Alabama .
A forest is a large area dominated by trees . Hundreds of more precise definitions of forest are used throughout the world , incorporating factors such as tree density , tree height , land use , legal standing and ecological function . According to the widely used Food and Agriculture Organization definition , forests covered 4 billion hectares ( 9.9×109 acres ) ( 15 million square miles ) or approximately 30 percent of the world 's land area in 2006 . Forests are the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of Earth , and are distributed around the globe . Forests account for 75% of the gross primary production of the Earth 's biosphere , and contain 80% of the Earth 's plant biomass . Net primary production is estimated at 21.9 gigatonnes carbon per year for tropical forests , 8.1 for temperate forests , and 2.6 for boreal forests . Forests at different latitudes and elevations form distinctly different ecozones : boreal forests around the poles , tropical forests around the Equator , and temperate forests at the middle latitudes . Higher elevation areas tend to support forests similar to those at higher latitudes , and amount of precipitation also affects forest composition . Human society and forests influence each other in both positive and negative ways . Forests provide ecosystem services to humans and serve as tourist attractions . Forests can also affect people 's health . Human activities , including harvesting forest resources , can negatively affect forest ecosystems .
Tallahassee ( /ˌtæləˈhæsi/ ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida . It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County . Tallahassee became the capital of Florida , then the Florida Territory , in 1824 . In 2018 , the population was 193,551 , making it the 7th-largest city in the U.S state of Florida , and the 126th-largest city in the United States . The population of the Tallahassee metropolitan area was 385,145 as of 2018 [ update ] . Tallahassee is the largest city in the Florida Big Bend and Florida Panhandle region , and the main center for trade and agriculture in the Florida Big Bend and Southwest Georgia regions . Tallahassee is home to Florida State University , ranked the nation 's eighteenth best public university by U.S. News & World Report . It is also home to Florida A & M University , the fifth-largest historically black university by total enrollment . Tallahassee Community College is a large state college that serves mainly as a feeder school to Florida State and Florida A & M . Tallahassee qualifies as a significant college town , with a student population exceeding 70,000 . [ citation needed ] As the capital , Tallahassee is the site of the Florida State Capitol , Supreme Court of Florida , Florida Governor 's Mansion , and nearly 30 state agency headquarters . The city is also known for its large number of law firms , lobbying organizations , trade associations and professional associations , including the Florida Bar and the Florida Chamber of Commerce .
In physical geography , tundra ( /ˈtʌndrə , ˈtʊn-/ ) is a type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons . The term tundra comes through Russian тундра ( tûndra ) from the Kildin Sámi word тӯндар ( tūndâr ) meaning uplands , treeless mountain tract . Tundra vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs , sedges and grasses , mosses , and lichens . Scattered trees grow in some tundra regions . The ecotone ( or ecological boundary region ) between the tundra and the forest is known as the tree line or timberline . There are three regions and associated types of tundra : Arctic tundra , alpine tundra , and Antarctic tundra .
Fairbanks is a home rule city and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska . Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska . 2018 estimates put the population of the city proper at 31,516 , and the population of the Fairbanks North Star Borough at 97,121 , making it the second most populous metropolitan area in Alaska ( after Anchorage ) . The Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses all of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and is the northernmost Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States , located 196 driving miles ( or 140 air miles ) south of the Arctic Circle . Fairbanks is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks , the founding campus of the University of Alaska system .
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth 's oceanic divisions . It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean ( or , depending on definition , to Antarctica ) in the south and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east . At 165,250,000 square kilometers ( 63,800,000 square miles ) in area ( as defined with an Antarctic southern border ) , this largest division of the World Ocean - and , in turn , the hydrosphere - covers about 46% of Earth 's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area , making it larger than all of Earth 's land area combined . The centers of both the Water Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere are in the Pacific Ocean . The equator subdivides it into the North ( ern ) Pacific Ocean and South ( ern ) Pacific Ocean , with two exceptions : the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands , while straddling the equator , are deemed wholly within the South Pacific . Its mean depth is 4,000 meters ( 13,000 feet ) . Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench , located in the western north Pacific , is the deepest point in the world , reaching a depth of 10,928 meters ( 35,853 feet ) . The Pacific also contains the deepest point in the Southern Hemisphere , the Horizon Deep in the Tonga Trench , at 10,823 meters ( 35,509 feet ) . The third deepest point on Earth , the Sirena Deep , is also located in the Mariana Trench . The western Pacific has many major marginal seas , including the South China Sea , the East China Sea , the Sea of Japan , the Sea of Okhotsk , the Philippine Sea , the Coral Sea , and the Tasman Sea .
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals . Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate . Most coral reefs are built from stony corals , whose polyps cluster in groups . Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria , which includes sea anemones and jellyfish . Unlike sea anemones , corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons that support and protect the coral . Most reefs grow best in warm , shallow , clear , sunny and agitated water . Coral reefs first appeared 485 million years ago , at the dawn of the Early Ordovician , displacing the microbial and sponge reefs of the Cambrian . Sometimes called rainforests of the sea , shallow coral reefs form some of Earth 's most diverse ecosystems . They occupy less than 0.1% of the world 's ocean area , about half the area of France , yet they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species , including fish , mollusks , worms , crustaceans , echinoderms , sponges , tunicates and other cnidarians . Coral reefs flourish in ocean waters that provide few nutrients . They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters , but deep water and cold water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other areas . Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services for tourism , fisheries and shoreline protection .
Honolulu ( /ˌhɒnəˈluːluː/ ; Hawaiian : [ honoˈlulu ] ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii . It is an unincorporated part of and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu along the southeast coast of the island of Oʻahu . [ a ] The city is the main gateway to Hawaiʻi and a major portal into the United States . The city is also a major hub for international business and military defense , as well as being host to a diverse variety of east-west and Pacific cultures , cuisine , and traditions . Honolulu is the remotest city of its size in the world , and is the westernmost and southernmost major U.S. city . For statistical purposes , the United States Census Bureau recognizes the approximate area commonly referred to as City of Honolulu ( not to be confused with the City and County ) as a census county division ( CCD ) . Honolulu is a major financial center of the islands and of the Pacific Ocean . The population of the Honolulu census designated place ( CDP ) was 359,870 as of the 2017 population estimate , while the Honolulu CCD was 390,738 and the population of the consolidated city and county was 953,207 . Honolulu means sheltered harbor or calm port in Hawaiian . The old name is Kou , a district roughly encompassing the area from Nuʻuanu Avenue to Alakea Street and from Hotel Street to Queen Street which is the heart of the present downtown district . The city has been the capital of the Hawaiian Islands since 1845 and gained historical recognition following the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan near the city on December 7 , 1941 . As of 2015 [ update ] , Honolulu was ranked high on world livability rankings , and was also ranked as the 2nd safest city in the U.S .
The Northeastern United States , also referred to as simply the Northeast , is a geographical region of the United States bordered to the north by Canada , to the east by the Atlantic Ocean , to the south by the southern United States , and to the west by the midwestern United States . The Northeast is one of the four regions defined by the United States Census Bureau for the collection and analysis of statistics . The Census Bureau-defined region has a total area of 181,324 sq mi ( 469,630 km2 ) with 162,257 sq mi ( 420,240 km2 ) of that being land mass . Although it lacks a unified cultural identity , the Northeastern region is the nation 's most economically developed , densely populated , and culturally diverse region . Of the nation 's four census regions , the Northeast has the second-largest percentage of residents living in an urban setting , with 85 percent , and is home to the nation 's largest metropolitan area . The Northeast is home to most of the Northeast megalopolis , the most economically significant and second most-populated of eleven megaregions within the United States , accounting for 20% of US GDP .
In the fields of horticulture and botany , the term deciduous ( /dɪˈsɪdjuːəs/ ; US : /dɪˈsɪdʒuəs/ ) means falling off at maturity and tending to fall off , in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves , usually in the autumn ; to the shedding of petals , after flowering ; and to the shedding of ripe fruit . Generally , the term deciduous means the dropping of a part that is no longer needed or useful to the plant and the falling away [ just a part ] after its purpose is finished . In plants , it is the result of natural processes . Deciduous has a similar meaning when referring to animal parts , such as deciduous antlers in deer , deciduous teeth ( baby teeth ) in some mammals ( including humans ) ; or decidua , the uterine lining that sheds off after birth .
New York City ( NYC ) , also known as the City of New York or simply New York ( NY ) , is the most populous city in the United States . With an estimated 2018 population of 8,398,748 distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles ( 784 km2 ) , New York is also the most densely populated major city in the United States . Located at the southern tip of the U.S. state of New York , the city is the center of the New York metropolitan area , the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass and one of the world 's most populous megacities , with an estimated 19,979,477 people in its 2018 metropolitan statistical area and 22,679,948 residents in its combined statistical area . A global power city , New York City has been described as the cultural , financial , and media capital of the world , and exerts a significant impact upon commerce , entertainment , research , technology , education , politics , tourism , art , fashion , and sports . The city 's fast pace has inspired the term New York minute . Home to the headquarters of the United Nations , New York is an important center for international diplomacy . Situated on one of the world 's largest natural harbors , New York City consists of five boroughs , each of which is a separate county of the State of New York . The five boroughs - Brooklyn , Queens , Manhattan , The Bronx , and Staten Island - were consolidated into a single city in 1898 . The city and its metropolitan area constitute the premier gateway for legal immigration to the United States . As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York , making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world . New York City is home to 3.2 million residents born outside the United States , the largest foreign born population of any city in the world as of 2016 . As of 2019 [ update ] , the New York metropolitan area is estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product ( GMP ) of US $ 2.0 trillion .
South Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida , comprising the southernmost part of the state . It is one of Florida 's three most commonly referred to directional regions , the others being Central Florida and North Florida . It includes the populous Miami metropolitan area , the Florida Keys , and other localities . South Florida is the only part of the continental United States with a tropical climate .
A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water , either permanently or seasonally , where oxygen-free processes prevail . The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants , adapted to the unique hydric soil . Wetlands play a number of functions , including water purification , water storage , processing of carbon and other nutrients , stabilization of shorelines , and support of plants and animals . Wetlands are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems , serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life . Whether any individual wetland performs these functions , and the degree to which it performs them , depends on characteristics of that wetland and the lands and waters near it . Methods for rapidly assessing these functions , wetland ecological health , and general wetland condition have been developed in many regions and have contributed to wetland conservation partly by raising public awareness of the functions and the ecosystem services some wetlands provide . Wetlands occur naturally on every continent . The main wetland types are swamp , marsh , bog , and fen ; sub-types include mangrove forest , carr , pocosin , floodplains , mire , vernal pool , sink , and many others . Many peatlands are wetlands . The water in wetlands is either freshwater , brackish , or saltwater . Wetlands can be tidal ( inundated by tides ) or non-tidal . The largest wetlands include the Amazon River basin , the West Siberian Plain , the Pantanal in South America , and the Sundarbans in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta .
Naples is a city in Collier County , Florida , United States . As of the 2010 Census , the city 's population was 19,539 . Naples is a principal city of the Naples-Marco Island , Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had a population of about 322,000 as of 2015 . Naples is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States , with the sixth-highest per capita income in the country in 2012 , and the second-highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US .
Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation . As the latitude of a location approaches the poles , the threshold elevation for alpine tundra gets lower until it reaches sea level , and alpine tundra merges with polar tundra . The high elevation causes an adverse climate , which is too cold and windy to support tree growth . Alpine tundra transitions to sub-alpine forests below the tree line ; stunted forests occurring at the forest-tundra ecotone are known as Krummholz . With increasing elevation it ends at the snow line where snow and ice persist through summer . Alpine tundra occurs in mountains worldwide . The flora of the alpine tundra is characterized by dwarf shrubs close to the ground . The cold climate of the alpine tundra is caused by adiabatic cooling of air , and is similar to polar climate .
Estes Park /ˈɛstɪs/ is a statutory town in Larimer County , Colorado , United States . A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park , Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River . Estes Park had a population of 5,858 at the 2010 census . Landmarks include The Stanley Hotel and The Baldpate Inn . The town overlooks Lake Estes and Olympus Dam .
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire , Michigan . The park covers a 35-mile-long ( 56 km ) stretch of Lake Michigan 's eastern coastline , as well as North and South Manitou islands . This Northern Michigan park was established primarily because of its outstanding natural features , including forests , beaches , dune formations , and ancient glacial phenomena . The lakeshore also contains many cultural features including the 1871 South Manitou Island Lighthouse , three former stations of the Coast Guard ( formerly the Life-Saving Service ) and an extensive rural historic farm district . In 2011 , the area won the title of The Most Beautiful Place in America from Good Morning America . In 2014 , a section of the park was named the Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness by the United States Congress .
Empire is a village in Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan . The population was 375 at the 2010 census . The village is located within Empire Township .
Kelp forests are underwater areas with a high density of kelp , which covers about 25% of the world 's coastlines . They are recognized as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Earth . Smaller areas of anchored kelp are called kelp beds .
Monterey ( Spanish : Monterrey ; Ohlone : Aacistak ) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on California 's Central Coast . Founded on June 3 , 1770 , it was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico . During this period , Monterey hosted California 's first theater , public building , public library , publicly funded school , printing press , and newspaper . It was also originally the only port of entry for all taxable goods in California . In 1846 during the Mexican-American War , the United States flag was raised over the Customs House . After California was ceded to the U.S. after the war , Monterey hosted California 's first constitutional convention in 1849 . The city occupies a land area of 8.466 sq mi ( 21.93 km2 ) and the city hall is at 26 feet ( 8 m ) above sea level . The 2010 census recorded a population of 27,810 . Monterey and surrounding area have attracted artists since the late 19th century and many celebrated painters and writers have lived there . Until the 1950s , there was an abundant fishery . Among Monterey 's notable present-day attractions are the Monterey Bay Aquarium , Cannery Row , Fisherman 's Wharf , California Roots Music and Arts Festival , and the annual Monterey Jazz Festival .
The Hawaiian jungles are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands . They cover an area of 6,700 km2 ( 2,600 sq mi ) in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands . Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m ( 980 ft ) . Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1,250 m ( 2,460 to 4,100 ft ) , while wet forests are found from 1,250 to 1,700 m ( 4,100 to 5,580 ft ) . Moist bogs and shrublands exist on montane plateaus and depressions . For the 28 million years of existence of the Hawaiian Islands , they have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean , and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species , including fungi , mosses , snails , birds , and other wildlife . In the lush , moist forests high in the mountains , trees are draped with vines , orchids , ferns , and mosses . This ecoregion includes one of the world 's wettest places , the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale , which average 373 in ( 9,500 mm ) of rainfall per year .
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park , established on August 1 , 1916 , is an American national park located in the U.S. state of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii . The park encompasses two active volcanoes : Kīlauea , one of the world 's most active volcanoes , and Mauna Loa , the world 's most massive shield volcano . The park provides scientists with insight into the birth and development of the Hawaiian Islands , and ongoing studies into the processes of volcanism . For visitors , the park offers dramatic volcanic landscapes , as well as glimpses of rare flora and fauna . In recognition of its outstanding natural values , Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980 and a World Heritage Site in 1987 . In 2012 , the park was depicted on the 14th quarter of the America the Beautiful Quarters series . On May 11 , 2018 , the park was closed to the public in the Kīlauea volcano summit area , including the visitor center and park headquarters , due to explosions and toxic ash clouds from Halemaʻumaʻu , as well as earthquakes and road damage . Portions of the park , including the visitor center , reopened to the public on September 22 , 2018 . As of 2019 [ update ] , most of the park is open ; however , some road segments and trails , the Thurston Lava Tube , and the Jaggar Museum of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory remain closed to visitors . Eruptive activity , ground collapses and explosions in the park ceased in early August of 2018 , and the lull in eruptive activity at Kīlauea continues .