Love Alaska? And a baby porcupine sleeping soundly by a stream, spotted while hiking the National Forest at the most blue of beautiful blues Mendenhall Glacier. “In 1982, the glacier was just another glacier because I didn’t have the experience of watching it disappear over time,” John Neary explained to GlacierHub. See more ideas about Mendenhall ice caves, Alaska travel, Alaska cruise. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. It is 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast of the U.S. state of Alaska. An ancient 1000-year-old forest has been uncovered beneath Alaska's 37 square mile Mendenhall Glacier. As well as humpback whales, there's a good chance of spotting bald eagles, blue heron, and other animal and bird life. Much of the attention centered around the glacier’s retreat and an apparent link to climate change. As the glacier melts, strange and mysterious remnants of the past are sometimes revealed. Ancient forest revealed 1,000 years after being 'entombed' in gravel as Alaskan glacier melts Scientists found well preserved tree stumps at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska Based on the size of their trunks trees are either hemlock or spruce The glacier and surrounding landscape is protected as the 5,815-acre Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a federally designated unit of the Tongass National Forest. Tell us about it in the comments below. The glacier is accessible throughout the year by road. The melting has caused “glacial-outburst” flooding, which could pose dangers for nearby residents. Mendenhall Glacier is a massive and mighty river of ice that extends 13 miles. Featuring vivid blue ice and awe-inspiring views of the magnificent Coast Mountains, the Mendenhall Glacier is a natural wonder. In a joint article for the Juneau EmpireGeologist Cathy Connor and Geophysicist Roman Motyka, both professors … If you want to find out more about visiting this unique and amazing part of Alaska in This Incredible Place in Alaska is like Nowhere Else on Earth and Why Everyone Should Explore These Ice Caves In Alaska At Least Once. Daily, hundreds of visitors see a glacier up close, just up the road in Alaska’s capital city. Daily, hundreds of visitors see a glacier up close, just up the road in Alaska’s capital city. Mendenhall Glacier Forest. The Mendenhall Glacier is one of many major glaciers that connect to the vast Juneau Ice Field, a 1,500 square mile remnant of the last ice age, cradled high in the coast mountain’s lofty peaks. The extremely well-preserved frozen bodies of … You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Ancient forests buried beneath ice for the last ~1,000 years began “popping out from under southern Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier” and garnishing headlines a few years ago (LiveScience, 2013). The Mendenhall Glacier has retreated approximately 2.5 miles since its most recent maxima during the Little Ice Age in the mid-1700s. Forest natu ralists of the center are your hosts during your visit. Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier is shrinking, and its retreating ice has bared the remains of an ancient forest. The researcher feels comfortable putting the forest at 1,000 years old, and some trees have tested even older. Stumps have been thawing from beneath the Mendenhall Glacier … The Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau is one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in Alaska. And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. The glacier is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide and more than 100 feet (30 metres) high at its terminus. The US Forest Service, which manages the Mendenhall Glacier, says "because glaciers are a product of climate, they respond to climate change." While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center — the hub of activities in the Recreation Area — af fords the most spectacular view of North America's most accessible glacier. Discover The Upside-Down Forest of Glacier Gardens in Juneau, Alaska: Upside-down trees serve as natural flower pots in this hanging garden of Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau is one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in Alaska. Ancient forests buried beneath ice for the last ~1,000 years began “popping out from under southern Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier” and garnishing headlines a few years ago (LiveScience, 2013). Visiting Mendenhall Glacier We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Peek Out At The Northern Lights From The Most Wished For Airbnb In Alaska, Hike Through The Alaskan Old Growth Forest Right Outside Downtown Juneau, Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth At Sweet Darlings, An Old Time Alaska Candy Store, Sneak Away To This Bright And Modern Tiny Home In Alaska With Stunning Views Of The Chugach Mountains, This Incredible Place in Alaska is like Nowhere Else on Earth, The Frozen Underground Tunnel In Alaska That You Have To See To Believe, One of The Biggest Tsunamis Ever Recorded Was Right Here In Alaska, This Fascinating Tunnel In Alaska Has Literally Frozen Time. They provide you with informative programs of the glacier, the new forest… Apr 5, 2018 - Explore Marti Clark's board "Mendenhall Ice caves" on Pinterest. Mendenhall Glacier is a glacier about 13.6 miles long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. A strong tourism industry around Alaska’s glaciers provides the state with substantial economic benefits. The Mendenhall Glacier’s recession is unveiling the remains of ancient forests that have remained frozen beneath the ice for up to 2,350 years. That is why the staff of the U.S. Forest Service and John Neary, director of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, are using the Mendenhall Glacier to educate visitors about climate change. This gargantuan collection of hundreds of years of snow compressed is always in the process of melting, losing ice chunks at the edges and sliding into the … Salmon so dense, dying in the creeks so thick, one could imagine walking across right on them. Ancient trees emerge from frozen forest ‘tomb’ Juneau Empire – Mary Catharine Martin – 12 Sept 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20160201200006/https://www.juneauempire.com/outdoors/2013-09 … Originally called Auk Glacier by the Tlingits, it was two miles closer in the 1700's and is now receding 90 feet yearly. 13 miles from Downtown Juneau. ◼ The glacier and its surroundings are protected as the 5,815 acre Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area, a federally designated unit of the Tongass National Forest. As a glacier in Alaska steadily thaws, remains of ancient forests are left uncovered. Stumps and logs have been popping out from under southern Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier — a 36.8-square-mile (95.3 square kilometers) river of ice flowing into a lake near Juneau — for nearly the past 50 years. The ancient glacier is about 22 km long, travelling from the Juneau Icefield and ending at Mendenhall lake, formed naturally in the late 1920s from its melting ice. The glacier and its surroundings are protected as the 5,815 acre Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area, a federally designated unit of the Tongass National Forest. As fascinating as it is to hear of a forest emerging from a melting glacier in Alaska, some scientists say the thawing Mendenhall Glacier could be trouble. Preserved stumps and trunks, many still rooted and even bearing bark, sit in a gravelly mix of stone churned up by the glacier. With the help of your small group and guide, you can paddle your way to a much better vantage point. This Ancient Forest In Alaska Is Melting Out Of The Ice. JUNEAU, Alaska — The Mendenhall Glacier's recession is unveiling the remains of ancient forests that have remained frozen beneath the ice for up to 2,350 years. Upstream from this bridge is Mendenhall Glacier, one of 16 large glaciers flowing from 1,000 square miles of the Juneau Icefield. The glacier is retreating due to a generally warming climate in Southeast Alaska, linked to global warming driven by climate change. Be amazed by the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Mendenhall Glacier, and take to the water on a whale-watching cruise. The remains have been frozen beneath the Mendenhall Glacier for up to 2,350 years. Ancient Forest Thaws From Melting Glacial Tomb Stumps have been thawing from beneath the Mendenhall Glacier for about 50 years, but recently, considerably more have been found in … ◼ The glacier is about 12 miles (19 km) long, located in the Mendenhall Valley. As a protected area, it’s part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area which covers over 5,000 acres in the Tongass National Forest. This is a must-do activity for travelers who appreciate the grandeur of nature. More information about the Mendenhall Glacier here. Trade the nosebleed section for front row seats on a canoe tour around Mendenhall Glacier. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. From its origin to its terminus at Mendenhall Lake, the glacier stretches some 13.6 miles. An ancient forest has thawed from under a melting glacier in Alaska and is now exposed to the world for the first time in more than 1,000 years. Scattered viewpoints of the glacier only offer so much. Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier is shrinking, and its retreating ice has bared the remains of an ancient forest. Thank you! The forest has … Stumps have been thawing from beneath the Mendenhall Glacier for about 50 years, but recently, considerably more have been found in upright positions with … An ancient forest has thawed from under a melting glacier in Alaska and is now exposed to the world for the first time in more than 1,000 years. HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. Located in Tongass National Forest, Mendenhall is one of 38 glaciers that originate from the massive 1,500 square mile Juneau Icefield. There is an ancient forest emerging from beneath the glacier and it is fascinating. As a glacier in Alaska steadily thaws, remains of ancient forests are left uncovered. The remains have been frozen beneath the Mendenhall Glacier for up to 2,350 years. Mendenhall Lake fronts the glacier at the terminus, and the ice extends 150-250 feet under the water. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/, Why Everyone Should Explore These Ice Caves In Alaska At Least Once, 6 Lakeside Restaurants In Alaska You Simply Must Visit This Time Of Year, This Glacier Sightseeing Tour Through Alaska Is An Adventure You’ll Never Forget, Spend The Night Inside Of Your Very Own Igloo At Borealis Basecamp In Alaska. There are remnants of a long buried ancient forest, it is said that it’s more than 1,000 years old and is now being exposed due to the melting of the glacier. This gargantuan collection of hundreds of years of snow compressed is always in the process of melting, losing ice chunks at the edges and sliding into the lake below. Have you heard about the forests melting out of the Mendenhall Glacier? We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. Much of the attention centered around the glacier’s retreat and an apparent link to climate change. The area is part of the almost 6000 acres of the Mendenhall recreation area, a unit of the heavily wooded federal Tongass National Forest. Mendenhall Glacier (also Sitaantaagu) is a glacier about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. INCAN CHILD SACRIFICE VICTIMS // ARGENTINA. More information about the Mendenhall Glacier here. The trees are being … The oldest tree Connor has found on the Mendenhall Glacier is around 2,350 years old. The oldest tree Connor has found on the Mendenhall Glacier is around 2,350 years old. It is part of the Juneau Icefield, located within the Tongass National Forest.