Mineral resources of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Study Area and vicinity, Alaska

The Wilderness Study Area consists of about 322,300 hectares (1,250 square miles or 796,400 acres) on the southwest side of the Coast Range in southeastern Alaska about 72 km (45 miles) southeast of Juneau, Alaska (fig. 1). An additional 142,800 hectares (550 square miles or 352,900 acres) lying in part between the study area and the International Boundary and in part contiguous to the southwest of the study area were studied because of their importance to the evaluation of the study area itself. Unless otherwise specified, the term Study Area as used in this report includes both the formally designated study area and these contiguous areas. The general area is one of spectacular scenery, with fiords, forests, glacier-covered peaks to 2,470 m (8,095 feet) high, tidewater glaciers, icebergs, and some broad river valleys. No roads or maintained trails or permanent residents are present, and access is only by specially arranged water or air transport. Present human use of the area is related to recreation or mineral-resource exploration.