Glacier Bay, Alaska

Our second day took us into Glacier Bay, the premier glacier viewing area in southern Alaska with sixteen glaciers terminating in a single bay. This area was extensively explored and mapped by naturalist John Muir in 1879. His records provided a detailed starting point for the mapping of glacial retreat.

The scenery entering the bay is truly spectacular.

Only two large cruise ships are allowed in Glacier Bay at any one time so not all cruises will take you to this spectacular area.

Bald eagles are a common sight in Alaska and it is not uncommon to spot them on floating ice.

The Grand Pacific Glacier is the fastest documented retreating glacier in recorded history. Scientists are hoping to learn how glacier activity relates to climate changes from the retreat.

With the rapid retreat of this glacier, the calving of the ice is almost constant. Beautiful but a cause for consern.