Katmai National Park and Preserve, home of the Mount Katmai volcano, was first opened as a national monument in 1918 in order to protect The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a 40-square-mile ash flow formed after the eruption of the Novarupta Volcano. In addition to this unique geological formation, the park is also home to over 2,000 brown bears. The Brooks Falls viewing platforms provide the perfect place to watch as these burly animals try to catch a lunch of spawning salmon.