Obama Renames America's Tallest Mountain
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Last Updated 22:16 30/08/2015
President Obama has waded into a decades-old argument by officially renaming a revered Alaskan mountain.
Mount McKinley was originally named as such by an explorer who discovered it in 1898 upon hearing that Ohio Republican William McKinley had been nominated to stand for president.
He was voted into office the following year and the mountain's name was formally recognised after President Wilson signed the Mount McKinley National Park Act in 1917.
But the native Koyukon Athabaskan people who live nearby have always referred to the 20,320 ft (6,194 metres) peak as 'Denali' (the great one).
A request by Alaska to the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1975 to officially rename the mountain Denali was blocked by an Ohio congressman whose district included McKinley's hometown.
Now, in solidarity with the Athabaskan, and on the eve of an historic presidential visit to Alaska, President Obama has announced the name change through his Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
"With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska," she said.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, who had pushed for years for the name change, said Alaskans were "honoured" to recognise the mountain as Denali - a change in tone for the Alaska Republican, who has previously spoken-out against Mr Obama's energy policies.
Mr Obama will become the first US President to visit the Alaskan Arctic as part of a three-day tour of the state. He will address the Glacier Conference and hold discussions with a group of Alaska Natives after arriving in the state capital Anchorage.
Denali is America's tallest peak and is popular with climbers but has claimed the lives of nearly 100 mountaineers
video play icon
Last Updated 22:16 30/08/2015
President Obama has waded into a decades-old argument by officially renaming a revered Alaskan mountain.
Mount McKinley was originally named as such by an explorer who discovered it in 1898 upon hearing that Ohio Republican William McKinley had been nominated to stand for president.
He was voted into office the following year and the mountain's name was formally recognised after President Wilson signed the Mount McKinley National Park Act in 1917.
But the native Koyukon Athabaskan people who live nearby have always referred to the 20,320 ft (6,194 metres) peak as 'Denali' (the great one).
A request by Alaska to the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1975 to officially rename the mountain Denali was blocked by an Ohio congressman whose district included McKinley's hometown.
Now, in solidarity with the Athabaskan, and on the eve of an historic presidential visit to Alaska, President Obama has announced the name change through his Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
"With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska," she said.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, who had pushed for years for the name change, said Alaskans were "honoured" to recognise the mountain as Denali - a change in tone for the Alaska Republican, who has previously spoken-out against Mr Obama's energy policies.
Mr Obama will become the first US President to visit the Alaskan Arctic as part of a three-day tour of the state. He will address the Glacier Conference and hold discussions with a group of Alaska Natives after arriving in the state capital Anchorage.
Denali is America's tallest peak and is popular with climbers but has claimed the lives of nearly 100 mountaineers
