Cruising Glacier Bay


You can watch movies about it, you can hear about it, you can read about it, but until you partake of it, you have no clue how thrilling it is to cruise Glacier Bay.

Glacier Bay Mountain ranges with peaks over 10,000 feet, culminating in 15,320 foot high Mount Fairweather within the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Nowhere else in Alaska, or in the world, can you see the amazing sight of the tidewater glacier that spreads from a peak 3 miles high down to sea level, that is known as the Margerie Glacier.

Only 200 years ago, the beautiful fjords and cruising areas of "Glacier Bay", were buried under ice thousands of feet thick. In 1794, Capitan George Vancouver saw the face of an enormous glacier at Glacier Bay's entrance at Icy Strait.

Naturalist John Muir found in 1879, that the vast ice had withdrawn an impressive 48 miles up the Bay. Amazingly, by 1916, its face had receded 65 miles all the way back to the entrance of Tarr Inlet, where it is today.

So, in only 200 years, these massive glaciers have left us with the beautiful, 65 mile long bay we enjoy now.

The glaciers on the Bay are extremely active and quite frequently, you get to hear or see "calving". It occurs when huge parts of the glacier breaks off and falls crashing into the Bay.

The calving imitates an explosion, reverberating off the walls of the glacier, and the ice makes a giant splash as it smashes into Glacier Bay.

Along with Mother Nature's incredible playful artistry of twinkling icebergs and striking views, you will probably be entertained by the plentiful wildlife that call this section of Alaska their homefront.

Sea otters, sleek sea lions, wolves, moose, black bears, Alaskan brown bears, puffins, humpback whales, minke and orca, harbor seals, porpoises, stunning bald eagles, mountain goats, and an amazing 200 breeds of birds are a delight to watch.

Puffins are one of the most vibrant birds. They are small seabirds, pigeon-sized, that live on the open water throughout the largest part of the year. Except for breeding.They swim and ride the surface of the ocean all year long regardless of harsh weather.

From April to mid August they colonize on islands, and seacoasts to breed. They have black and white feathers and a vertical, flat, triangular shaped bill which is brightly colored especially during breeding season.

Whether in awe of the wildlife or breathing in the awesome- ness of the views, the beauty of Alaska stands out in this impressive Park.

About The Author

Jenna Grant shares her Cruise resources at http://www.qtcruise.com.







Related News



Set sail for the world's far corners - The Australian

Set sail for the world's far corners
The Australian, Australia -Aug 15, 2008
Rough and the smooth: Expedition cruising in Antarctica or South America without sacrificing luxury is the promise with Silversea's new ship, ...

Southerners head Cruising with Spinnakers - Sail World

Southerners head Cruising with Spinnakers
Sail World, Australia -Aug 17, 2008
...Cruising Yacht Club’s Mark Travis with his Northshore 38 Full Frontal and Balmain Sailing Club’s Arthur King’s Adams 12 Breakaway, both on 15 points. ...

Close finale to great regatta - Sail World

Close finale to great regatta
Sail World, Australia -4 hours ago
However, just two points back is Arthur King’s Adams 12 from the Balmain Sailing Club. In the Cruising without Spinnakers ‘White Sails’ division, ...
Wolverines howl in WhitsundaysSail World
all 4 news articles

Antigua Sailing Week Announces a New Format for the 2009 Edition - Caribbeanracing.com

Antigua Sailing Week Announces a New Format for the 2009 Edition
Caribbeanracing.com -7 hours ago
The 2009 edition will sail off a day earlier for the racing and cruising fleets on Saturday April 25th rather than the traditional Sunday start. ...

Royal Caribbean Cruises: See The World In Style - Corsavoo.com

Royal Caribbean Cruises: See The World In Style
Corsavoo.com, France -Aug 19, 2008
In the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), you can find great bargains on these cruises by booking a "repositioning" cruise. Many cruise ships sail northern ...


Come sail away ... - Ithaca Times

Come sail away ...
Ithaca Times, NY -13 hours ago
When we see the rowing shells cruising along the Cayuga Inlet, it seems rather unlikely - given our short warm weather season - that any of the young rowers ...

River cruises: 10 of the best - Telegraph.co.uk

Telegraph.co.uk

River cruises: 10 of the best
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom -Aug 19, 2008
By Deborah Stone If you only take one river cruise in your life, it should be this route, sailing along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. ...

Alaska cruises add quieter ports - Canada.com

Canada.com

Alaska cruises add quieter ports
Canada.com, Canada -22 hours ago
This mid-sized ship carries 670 passengers and is sailing 14-day roundtrip voyages from Vancouver throughout the summer. If you make just one trip to Alaska ...

Stupid cruise tricks: When you can't get on (or off) - WalletPop

NBC13.com

Stupid cruise tricks: When you can't get on (or off)
WalletPop, VA -7 hours ago
Even if you don't buy travel insurance, the least you can do is remain in steady touch with your cruise line in the run-up before sailing. ...
Carnival Cruise Lines to Expand Capacity in New Orleans by 34 ...MarketWatch
Fantasy fulfilled Mobile is getting a bigger cruise shipPress-Register - al.com
all 117 news articles

Caribbean Cruises- Best Way to Enjoy Caribbean Vacations - Corsavoo.com

Caribbean Cruises- Best Way to Enjoy Caribbean Vacations
Corsavoo.com, France -17 hours ago
There are a variety of cruises that could suit each budget and taste, ranging from bare boats, skippered yachts, motor yachts, crewed charters, stay-sails...