photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Peiying Mo | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> Alaska Panhandle >> Hubbard Glacier tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Hubbard Glacier

One of the largest in Alaska, the Hubbard Glacier is a tidewater glacier that stretches from Yukon territory in Canada to the head of Yakutat Bay, Alaska. It is one of the few in the world that is advancing, stretching more than 76 miles in distance, with a face of 6 miles in width and 300 ft in height. So to say we are only witnessing the tip of the icebergs is quite appropriate!

The floating icebergs, as large as 3-story building, can last for several weeks before they melt into ice water. The colors of the icebergs vary from white to blue to green: white holds more trapped air bubbles; blue are dense and cold; greenish-black are from the glacier bottoms; and dark-striped brown carry gravel and rocks from joining of tributory glaciers. The height of a floating iceberg depends on the ice density, water density and the debris it carries.

The show of large ice cliffs calving into the bay, generating "thunders", and sending over a 100 ft high splash in the air is quite spectacular. The distance between a cruiseliner and the face of the glacier is determined by the weather condition and the activity level of the glacier at the time. The captain "docked" our ship probably about a couple of miles from the glacier so we can get a "close" look. As these pictures show, it is very difficult to get a perspective of the sheer size of the Hubbard Glacier, the Valerie Glacier, Haenker Glacier and Turner Glacier.
On our way to the Yakutat Bay
On our way to the Yakutat Bay		 The Seven Seas Mariner is traveling slowly in the same direction
The "Seven Seas Mariner" is traveling slowly in the same direction		 Waterfall meandering down from the green hill
Waterfall meandering down from the green hill		 Pieces of melting glaciers are visible
Pieces of melting glaciers are visible
Fog hangs low along the mountains
Fog hangs low along the mountains		 The color of the water at Disenchantment Bay is jade green
The color of the water at Disenchantment Bay is jade green		 The Hubbard Glacier is right in front of us
The Hubbard Glacier is right in front of us		 It is about 7 am in the morning, the air is very cold
It is about 7 am in the morning, the air is very cold
I think every guest must be on the deck at this point
I think every guest must be on the deck at this point		 The thunder sound pops from several directions
The "thunder" sound pops from several directions		 when in fact the glacier is calving
when in fact the glacier is calving		 The mist lingers longer when the air is humid.
The mist lingers longer when the air is humid.
In the background are Haenker and Turner Glaciers
In the background are Haenker and Turner Glaciers		 The glacier is so blue, it is visible even in the pieces falling in the bay
The glacier is so blue, it is visible even in the pieces falling in the bay		 Another gigantic piece peels off
Another gigantic piece peels off		 sending wave in the water and mist in the air
sending wave in the water and mist in the air
Calving happens after the white thunders.
Calving happens after the "white thunders".		 We are a couple of miles from the front of the glacier
We are a couple of miles from the front of the glacier		 A sliver view of the Russell Fiord
A sliver view of the Russell Fiord		 It takes a long time for the ice to melt completely
It takes a long time for the ice to melt completely
A survey boat is out collecting ice for research
A survey boat is out collecting ice for research		 It gives us some perspective how big the ice is
It gives us some perspective how big the ice is		 After more than an hour of viewing, our cruise exits the Disenchantment Bay to make room for other cruiseliners
After more than an hour of viewing, our cruise exits the Disenchantment Bay to make room for other cruiseliners		 A view from further away
A view from further away
Travel around the Haenker Island
Travel around the Haenker Island		 The cruiseline I spotted earlier in the day finally arrives
The cruiseline I spotted earlier in the day finally arrives		 View of the coastal mountains
View of the coastal mountains		 Bears and deer can be spotted at the foothills if you know what to look for
Bears and deer can be spotted at the foothills if you know what to look for
The other cruise line is in position to get a close view of the glaciers
The other cruise line is in position to get a close view of the glaciers		 A better perspective of the size and the migration path of the glacier
A better perspective of the size and the migration path of the glacier		 Valerie and Hubbard Glaciers
Valerie and Hubbard Glaciers		 A panoramic view of the face of the Hubbard Glacier: 6 miles wide, 300 ft high!
A panoramic view of the "face" of the Hubbard Glacier: 6 miles wide, 300 ft high!
The USGS map of the glaciers
The USGS map of the glaciers

comment | share
click on thumbnails for full image