The Hubbard Glacier is a dynamic glacier that has had two significant surges in the past 30 years and was moving at a rate of more than 7 feet per day at one point. These waves were significant enough to pose a risk to the surrounding town of Yakutat, which is located on the coast, and they came dangerously close to obstructing the entry to Russell Fiord. On a regular basis, significant portions of the glacier calve off and fall into the water below. Calving is the term that describes this procedure. The majority of tidewater glaciers break off above the water’s surface, which results in enormous waves when the newly formed icebergs crash into the water. Glaciers are able to calve when submerged in water if the water is deep enough.
Having the opportunity to observe glaciers in action is likely to be a highlight of any trip to Alaska. There are an estimated 100,000 glaciers in this state, which encompass three percent of the land area and are responsible for the formation of the majority of the state’s rivers. The Ice Age is still active here. Glaciers are long, winding rivers of ice that originate high in the mountains as ice packs. These ice packs form because more snow falls than melts at these elevations. They are capable of moving forward at speeds of several feet a day while they are in continual motion, but they are also capable of making sudden surges of up to 300 feet. Some are receding, or shrinking, as a result of increasing melting or a shortage of new snow that can provide them with food. The gorgeous blue color that is commonly associated with glaciers is produced by the density of the ice, which causes it to absorb almost all of the colors in the spectrum with the exception of blue, which is reflected.
These three natural wonders—the Hubbard Glacier, Disenchantment Bay, and Russell Fjord—are on par with any other in terms of their beauty. The journey to the glacier consists of many challenges, the first of which is getting through the seas that are littered with icebergs. It is common to spot wildlife like bears, moose, deer, sea otters, killer whales, and a variety of seabirds nesting along the trail. Large fault lines may be seen running along the West Coast, and a brief explanation is given regarding the natural history of this dynamic region.
