Our cruise was in the Alexander Archipelago, which is a 300-mile long archipelago (group of islands) lying off the southeastern coast of Alaska. It contains about 1,100 islands, the tops of submerged coastal mountains that rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean. Deep channels and fjords (600 feet deep) separate the islands and cut them off from the mainland. The islands shelter the northern part of the Inside Passage as it winds its way among them.
The islands have irregular, steep coasts and dense evergreen and temperate rain forests; most are accessible only by boat or by airplane. All the islands are rugged, densely forested, and have an abundance of wildlife.
Islands, Mountains, Waterfalls
Mountains are common and snow during the winter (average 15 feet at the ski slope near Juneau) maintains the ice fields that feed the glaciers. The entire Glacier Bay National Park was covered by glaciers as recently as 1792 and the ice has retreated 65 miles since then.
Details about Glacier Bay National Park
Glaciers
