Kipukas
The Hawaiian word for "island." Because of their isolation from neighboring terrain due to volcanic activity, the species within these isolated parks remain nearly unchanged over time.

Kiva
A round, underground, or at least partly underground, adjunct to an Indian pueblo, used for ceremonial gatherings and symbolic of the "womb of the Mother
Earth."

Knife-edge
A very narrow ridge crest. In spots, the crest of a knife-edge is too angular to walk on, and travel requires scrambling over and around pinnacles, along ledges on the side of the ridge, or even straddling the ridge.

Krummholz
Above the treeline, wind dictates the lifestyle of the low-lying, procumbent alpine community. On barren, rocky slopes with a short growing season and heavy snowfall, trees take on the stunted growth habit of "Krummholz."