Glacier Bay National Park with an area of 13,287 sq. km is located on the southeast coast of Alaska. The nature of the Glacier Bay coastline is glaciers, mountain ranges with snowy peaks covered with forests, deep fjords, rivers and lakes. The national park is under the protection of UNESCO.
One hundred years ago, the most famous glacier here was the Muir Glacier, 3 km wide and 80 m high. But the climate is constantly changing and in 1990 the glacier retreated. Today, tourists have the opportunity to observe the Margerie and Lamplugh glaciers. The photo shows a waterfall from under the Lamplugh glacier.
The park has very few roads, so cruises and air and helicopter tours are the best way to explore.
This is what Glacier Bay National Park looks like from space:
The birth of icebergs from the Margerie glacier.
Ice cave in an iceberg. The iceberg's blue color indicates that it is very dense and formed relatively recently.
The 13 km long Lamplugh glacier. Glaciers always try to find equilibrium when the amount of ice that forms equals the amount of ice lost by the glacier. In the case of a significant increase in the supply and its excess over the melting, the edge of the glacier moves forward - the glacier sets in, with the opposite ratio, the glacier retreats.
Margaery Glacier and Mount Fairweather. This mountain is the highest peak in British Columbia and the ninth highest peak in Alaska.
Glaciers born on the slopes of Mount Fairweather drain westward into the Gulf of Alaska. The absolute height of the summit is 4663 meters above sea level:
View of Glacier Bay National Park from an airplane.
Marble Islands and Sea Lions.
Landscapes of Glacier Bay National Park.
Bear at the waterfall.
19-kilometer Johns Hopkins Glacier. The general condition for the formation of glaciers is a combination of low air temperatures with a large amount of solid atmospheric precipitation.
The killer whale is from the dolphin family. Males reach a length of 9-10 m and weigh up to 7.5 tons. The killer whale is called killer whale because of its reputation as a dangerous predator.
Bird's-eye.
Baribal, or black bear.
Glacier Bay National Park is not only glaciers, but also beautiful, mysterious forests.
Modern glaciers cover an area of over 16 million square kilometers, or about 11% of the land. More than 25 million cubic meters are concentrated in them. km of ice - almost two-thirds of the volume of fresh water on the planet.
The transformation of snow into ice can take place both at negative temperatures and at melting temperatures.
A beautiful glacier in Halo Bay.
Another photograph of Mount Fairweather.
The climate of Glacier Bay National Park is marine, influenced by ocean currents. On the coast, winters are rather mild (from -2 to +5 C), and summers are cool (+ 10-15 C).
The tail of a humpback whale. Humpback whales spend the summer in Glacier Bay National Park and then migrate to Hawaii for the winter.
Here is the lowest point of Glacier Bay National Park - 430 meters below sea level.
The Hubbard Valley Treelike Glacier, the largest on the coast of Alaska. It originates from Mount Logan. The ice at the foot of the Hubbard Glacier is about 400 years old, which is how long it takes for the ice to descend from Mount Logan to the ocean. The top 67 km are in Canada, the bottom 48 km are in the United States.
Glacier Bay National Park(Glacier Bay) with an area of 13.287 sq. Km. is located on the southeastern coast of Alaska, most of which are protected areas. The nature of the Glacier Bay coastline is glaciers formed many centuries ago, a mountain range with snowy peaks covered with forests, deep fjords, rivers and hundreds of large and small lakes, waterfalls. The national park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Glaciers descending from the snowy mountains form icebergs, they always try to find equilibrium when the amount of ice that forms is equal to the amount of ice lost by the glacier. Currently, there are about 30 glaciers in the park, while in the 19th century there were five times more of them. Under the influence of the most massive of them, the landscapes of the area were formed and changed from year to year. According to scientists, the melting of glaciers is a natural and irreversible process, it is impossible to stop it.
One hundred years ago, the most famous glacier here was the glacier Muir- 3 km wide and 80 m high. But the climate is constantly changing and in 1990 the glacier retreated. Today, tourists have the opportunity to observe glaciers Margerie and a 13-kilometer glacier Lamplugh.
Mount Fairweather is the highest peak in British Columbia and the ninth highest peak in Alaska. Glaciers born on the slopes of Mount Fairweather drain westward into the Gulf of Alaska. The absolute height of the summit is 4663 meters above sea level:
The park has very few roads, so cruises and air and helicopter tours are the best way to explore.
From the types of recreation in the park it is offered: fishing, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, walks on the sea on catamarans and boats.
The park is inhabited by a large number of animals and birds. In the forests and on the coast, bears and deer are found, and whales can be seen near the coast. There is also a population of sea lions on the coast.
And people first settled in these places about 10,000 years ago, they were Indian tribes. The first Europeans arrived here at the beginning of the 19th century as part of the expedition of Lewis and Clark, it was they who discovered the Indians here, and in 1910 the region received the status of a national park.
Tourists should be careful and use the services of guides to visit and inspect the park.
The park is open all year round, 24 hours a day, but in winter the park's possibilities are minimal. The information center is open from May to early September from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Climate
Alaska is characterized by a variety of climatic zones depending on the region. Glacier Bay has a maritime climate influenced by ocean currents. On the coast, winters are rather mild (-2 +5 ° C), and summers are cool (+ 10-15 ° C). April, May and June are the driest months of the year. The highest amount of precipitation falls in September and October. In the mountains, the temperature is much lower, and a lot of snow falls in winter.
From the end of May to September, the official tourist season lasts in Glacier Park; it is during these months that the bulk of tourists come here. During the rest of the months, only limited service is available.
How to get there
Missoula (190 km) and Kalispell (40 km) airports accept flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and other US cities. You can get from them to the park without any problems, by shuttles or regular buses. From Canada (the city of Calgary) to the national park is only 4.5 hours away.
You can also get to the park from the town of Gustavus, which is located directly next to the park, which can only be reached by water or by air taxi from Juneau.
Where to stay
There are hotels and lodges in the park. They were built in picturesque places, usually on the banks of water bodies, and are part of tourist complexes that include cafes, restaurants, recreation areas, shops.
In the western part of the park is the Lake McDonald Lodge, which opened in 1914. The hotel was named after the largest lake in the park, on the banks of which it was built.
On the eastern shore of Swiftcarrent Lake is the Many Glacier Hotel, the largest hotel in the park.
14-01-2013, 23:30
In the northwest of North America, there is the Glacier Bay National Park, which covers an area of more than 13 thousand square kilometers. The nature of the southeastern coast of Alaska is incredibly beautiful and majestic. Glaciers and mountain ranges with snow-capped peaks, deep fjords, dense forests, lakes and rivers reign here. The ecosystem of the national park is truly unique, which is why Glacier Bay is one of the protected sites of UNESCO.
A century ago, the most famous glacier in the park was the Muir Glacier, which reached 80 meters in height and 3 kilometers wide. Over time, the climate changed, and the glacier retreated by the end of the 20th century. Today tourists have the opportunity to enjoy views of the Lamplugh and Margerie glaciers. And it is worth noting that this is an incredibly amazing sight with your own eyes. The photo shows a waterfall that found a weak spot in the Lamplugh glacier and burst out.
There are few hiking trails in the park, so excursions and cruises are best done from a bird's eye view, by helicopter or airplane.
The view of the national park from space is amazing beauty, isn't it ...
This is how icebergs are "born" from the Margerie Glacier.
Inside the ice cave of the iceberg, you feel like in a fabulous ice kingdom. By the way, the blue color indicates that the ice is very dense and the iceberg was formed relatively recently.
The Lamplugh glacier is 13 kilometers long. As long as they exist, glaciers are always in search of balance - the amount of ice lost must be commensurate with the amount of ice that forms. That is why, in the case when the glacier is growing vigorously, and melting somewhat less, its edge gradually moves forward - thus, it comes. When the opposite occurs, then the glacier is retreating.
Surrounded by the icy peaks of Margaery, Mount Fairweather rises, which is the ninth highest mountain in Alaska and the highest peak in British Columbia.
The height of Mount Fairweather above sea level is 4663 meters. Glaciers formed on the slopes, when melted, flow into the Gulf of Alaska.
View from the plane to Glacier Bay Park.
Sea lions live in the Marble Islands of Alaska.
The silent silence and incredible beauty of Glacier Bay National Park.
One of the local residents of the park, a brown bear, came to the waterfall.
The Johns Hopkins Glacier is 19 kilometers long. In order for a large glacier to form, it is necessary to combine such factors as low air temperatures and a large amount of solid atmospheric precipitation.
The waters here are inhabited by killer whales from the dolphin family. These mammals have a reputation for being dangerous predators - their name killer whale means "killer whale." Males weighing up to 7 tons in length reach 9-10 meters.
Bird's-eye view.
The black bear Baribal is resting in its grounds.
Glacier Bay Natural Park can be proud not only of its glaciers, but also of beautiful mysterious forests.
An elk that shed its horns in autumn in search of nutritious vegetation.
Today, the glaciers of the entire planet occupy over 16 million square kilometers of area, which is about 11% of the land and almost 2/3 of the volume of fresh water - more than 25 million cubic meters. kilometers of ice.
Conversion of snow to ice occurs both at the level below zero and at the melting temperature.
An incredible combination of colors at Halo Bay.
Snowy peaks of Mount Fairweather.
The marine climate of the national park is influenced by ocean currents. Winter on the coast is relatively mild - the average temperature ranges from -2 ° C to + 5 ° C, while in summer it is cool here from + 10 ° C to + 15 ° C.
One of the ice caves in Glacier Bay Park.
Located on the southeastern shores of Alaska, west of the city of Juneau. The nature of the park is lakes, rivers, deep fjords, mountains and glaciers. It was once an icy desert. Currently, in the protected area, mountain ranges rise above the azure waters. About two dozen majestic glaciers slide down from the mighty peaks. Melting away, they give rise to a beautiful blooming world.
Glacier Bay National Park and its climate and general information
Glacier Bay Is a place of ice and snow, which covers an area of 1 million 200 thousand hectares. There is a bay of the same name in the park. It is a 100 km long canal that juts out into the land. It can only be navigated by seaplane or ship. At the southern end of Glacier Bay National Park, the entrance to the bay is called Ice strait.
If ice dominates the main open spaces of the park, then Dantes Bey they have not been freezing for 200 years. Abundant vegetation covers its shores. Glacier Bay is a system of deep fjords, branching into two main branches and numerous small straits. Until recently, there were no huge canals in the protected area.
When the last ice age reigned here, the fjord valley was buried under a glacier whose thickness exceeded 1200 meters. There is no other place on Earth where such a dramatic change has occurred. The answer to the question, under the influence of what forces such changes occurred, can be found in the northern part of the national park. For centuries, arctic snow has been compressed here and gradually turned into glacier- icy rivers. Ice masses in the western arm of the bay are named Rita glacier.
Climate in the park nautical, it is influenced by ocean currents. Winter on the coast is quite mild, with an average temperature of -2 +5 ° C. It is cool in the park in summer - from +10 to 15 ° C. The driest months of the year are June, May and April. The maximum amount of precipitation falls in September and October. The temperature in the mountains is much lower, and a lot of snow falls in winter.
Glacier Bay National Park and its wildlife
Animal world Glacier Bay National Park represented by bears, deer, which are found on the coast and in the forests. In the protected area, you can see whales with your own eyes.
There are not many hiking trails in the national park, so it is best to explore it by helicopter and airplane excursions. Among the most popular leisure activities in Glacier Bay Park include walks at sea on boats and catamarans, hiking, rafting, rock climbing.
Glacier Bay National Park with an area of 13,287 sq. Km. is located on the southeast coast of Alaska. The nature of the Glacier Bay coastline is glaciers, mountain ranges with snowy peaks covered with forests, deep fjords, rivers and lakes. The national park is under the protection of UNESCO.
One hundred years ago, the most famous glacier here was the Muir Glacier, 3 km wide and 80 m high. But the climate is constantly changing and in 1990 the glacier retreated. Today, tourists have the opportunity to observe the Margerie and Lamplugh glaciers. The photo shows a waterfall from under the Lamplugh glacier. (Photo by Larry Wilson | NPS):
The park has very few roads, so cruises and air and helicopter tours are the best way to explore.
This is what Glacier Bay National Park looks like from space:
The birth of icebergs from the Margerie glacier. (NPS Photo | T.Rains):
Ice cave in an iceberg. The iceberg's blue color indicates that it is very dense and formed relatively recently. (Photo by J.Driscoll | NPS): 
The 13 km long Lamplugh glacier. Glaciers always try to find equilibrium when the amount of ice that forms equals the amount of ice lost by the glacier. In the case of a significant increase in the supply and its excess over the melting, the edge of the glacier moves forward - the glacier sets in, with the opposite ratio, the glacier retreats. (Photo by J.Mallis | NPS): 
Margaery Glacier and Mount Fairweather. This mountain is the highest peak in British Columbia and the ninth highest peak in Alaska. (Photo by Emily Mount | NPS): 
Glaciers born on the slopes of Mount Fairweather drain westward into the Gulf of Alaska. The absolute height of the summit is 4663 meters above sea level: 
Over at Glacier Bay National Park from the plane. (Photo by Piero Sierra): 
Marble Islands and Sea Lions. 
Landscapes of Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo by T.Rains | NPS): 
Bear at the waterfall. (Photo by Emily Mount | NPS): 
19-kilometer Johns Hopkins Glacier. The general condition for the formation of glaciers is a combination of low air temperatures with a large amount of solid atmospheric precipitation. (NPS Photo): 
The killer whale is from the dolphin family. Males reach a length of 9-10 m and weigh up to 7.5 tons. The killer whale is called killer whale because of its reputation as a dangerous predator. (Photo by christopher): 
Bird's-eye. (Photo by Steve Wall): 
Baribal, or black bear. (Photo by Melinda Webster | NPS): 
Glacier Bay National Park is not only glaciers, but also beautiful, mysterious forests. (Photo by T.Rains | NPS): 
Elk. (Photo by Rosemarie Salazar | NPS): 
Modern glaciers cover an area of over 16 million square kilometers, or about 11% of the land. More than 25 million cubic kilometers are concentrated in them. ice - almost two-thirds of the planet's fresh water volume. (Photo by Anita363): 
The transformation of snow into ice can take place both at negative temperatures and at melting temperatures. (Photo by Donna62): 
A beautiful glacier in Halo Bay. (Photo by Len Radin): 
Another photograph of Mount Fairweather. (Photo by Linda Lieberman | NPS): 
The climate of Glacier Bay National Park is marine, influenced by ocean currents. On the coast, winters are quite mild (-2 +5 C), and summers are cool (+ 10-15 C). (Photo by Rosemarie Salazar | NPS): 
Cave. (Photo by Janene Driscoll | NPS): 
The tail of a humpback whale. Humpback whales spend the summer in Glacier Bay National Park and then migrate to Hawaii for the winter. (Photo by christopher): 
Here is the lowest point of Glacier Bay National Park - 430 meters below sea level. (Photo by morganglines): 
The Hubbard Valley Treelike Glacier, the largest on the coast of Alaska. It originates from Mount Logan. The ice at the foot of the Hubbard Glacier is about 400 years old, which is how long it takes for the ice to descend from Mount Logan to the ocean. The top 67 km are in Canada, the bottom 48 km are in the United States. (Photo by Rich Engelbrecht): 
The width of the frontal part of the Hubbard Glacier (abutting the bays) is today approximately 9 kilometers in summer and about 15 kilometers in winter. The Hubbard Glacier is a growing glacier. It has continued to grow and advance over the past hundred years or so. (Photo by Jill Schad): 
Ice broke from the glacier. (Photo by Jeff Huffman): 
It was a short tour of Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. (Photo by Preston Filbert | NPS): 
