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A boat tour to the Sawyer Glacier in Alaska
May 26, 2004

about Sawyer Glacier
cruising to Sawyer Glaacier cruising to Sawyer Glaacier
cruising to Sawyer Glaacier cruising to Sawyer Glaacier

Below: When you see an iceberg in the water, it is safe to say that 75% of their bulk is still under the water's surface. Icebergs form when a glacier reaches saltwater or a freshwater lake. Ice chunks as big as a city block and as tall as a 3-story building have been known to split and fall into the sea. The process is called calving and this glacier, perched at the head of Tracy Arm (a fjord) sheds a chunk of ice on the average of once an hour.

iceberg in the water iceberg in the water
Sawyer Glacier Sawyer Glacier

Below: Sawyer Glacier is surrounded by snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord. The area takes its name from a U.S. Navy crewman named Ford, who in 1899 paddled into a narrow waterway connected to Endicott Arm. For 6 hours, he was caught in surging tidal currents, surrounded by massive crushing icebergs. He survived the ordeal and since then, this finger-shaped waterway has been known as Ford's terror.

snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord

It is estimated that during any given summer, glaciers in Alaska empty over 50,000 BILLION gallons of water into the stream flow. There are an estimated 100,000 glaciers in Alaska.

snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord
snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord snow-capped mountains at the end of Tracy Arm Fjord
Sawyer Glacier a small cruise boatv

Below: Viewing Sawyer Glacier form the boat.

Viewing Sawyer Glacier form the boat. Viewing Sawyer Glacier form the boat.
Viewing Sawyer Glacier form the boat. ice chunks and Sawyer Glacier

Skagway, Alaska - gold dredging and a train ride

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