So why freeze in the cold Yukon territory? Well, if there was ever a good reason, it was Glacier Bay National Park. Located in southeastern portion of Alaska is a park filled with wildlife, water, ice, and raw nature.
One of the biggest crowd pleasers in Glacier National Park is the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights: colored, textured lights swirling and pulsating in the starry night sky. So, what is really happening? (I have to add some science content.) Earth is constantly being pummeled by a solar wind: particles of protons and electrons the sun throws into space as a result of solar flares. Some of the charged particles are attracted to our planet’s magnetic poles and then smash into our atmosphere causing those pretty lights. The best time for this sight is around the fall and spring equinoxes when the solar flares are at their worst. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a geomagnetic storm watch so that you can stay up to date.
Another reason to go to this park are the whales. The park is right by the Pacific Ocean. Large groups of Orcas and humpback whales breed and feed very near to the Alaskan coast. The mating season is June to August.
Last but not least, are the glaciers. Most scientists speculate that by 2050, there will be no glaciers left in the park as a result of global warming. As of now, however, there are 9 glaciers in the 5,130 square miles of land in the park.
There is a vast diversity of wildlife in the park, including humpback whales, Orcas, harbor seals, sea lions, otters, wolf, coyote, grizzly bear, moose, lynx, marmots, a huge variety of sea birds, and snowshoe hare are some of the most popular ones. (http://www.nps.gov/glba/naturescience/index.htm)
Because there are no roads to the park, most people take cruises or hire out boats to take them to the park. Either way, it is definitely worth the price. Hurry up though, as it may soon be called “Glacierless Bay National Park.”
This glacier park would be an interesting place to visit for sure! I love how green the grass is!
By: mon@rch on February 2, 2008
at 3:44 am
The US has two parks with “glacier” in the title. You are writing about Glacier Bay National Park, but the second paragraph has Glacier National Park and the photo is of Glacier National Park. This park is in Montana and its glaciers are known to be melting and in peril.
Glacier Bay National Park, with the whales, glaciers and northern lights is in Alaska in the Southeast Panhandle. It has 13 tidewater glaciers fed by the massive Brady Glacier. They are dynamic and some are advancing and others are retreating. I hope you can visit them!
By: JoAnn on February 2, 2008
at 4:31 pm