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| Blue iceberg, Mc Bride inlet. Glacier Bay
National Park |
Mt Parker reflected in West arm.
Glacier Bay National Park |
Cruise ship stopping next to Margerie Glacier.
Glacier Bay National Park |
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The blue-white glaciers that flow from the lofty, snow
clad peaks of the St. Elias and Fairweather Ranges to
the fjord-like inlets below make Glacier Bay one of the
most scenic places in the world. The bay, about 70 miles
long and 2.5 to 10 miles wide (110 km long and four to
16 km wide) shows glaciers in every stage of development
as well as floating icebergs.
John Muir discovered Glacier Bay in 1879. A century
before his visit, glaciers filled the entire bay. Since
then the ice fields have been retreating. In fact, in
just over 200 years, the ice on the east side of Glacier
Bay has melted back over 65 miles (105 km). However, a
few of the glaciers on the west side are advancing.
Glacier Bay National Monument was set up in 1924 and
renamed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in 1980.
It provides a remarkable opportunity to see the Alaskan
landscape still in the act of creation.
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