Tracy Arm

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Tracy Arm fjord, Sawyer Glacier and two Orcas, 2009
Whaler from NOAA Ship John N. Cobb with Sawyer Glacier in the background.





Sawyer Glacier[edit]

The twin Sawyer Glaciers, North Sawyer and South Sawyer, are located at the end of Tracy Arm.[1] The wildlife in the area includes black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, and a variety of birds, such as arctic terns and pigeon guillemots. The mountain goats, which are usually found in the higher elevation areas, have been seen near the base of Sawyer Glacier.[2][3]

Deepwater Emergence[edit]

A rockfish hides in a red tree coral (Primnoa pacifica).

The deep passageways and thin continental shelf leads to unique connections between offshore and inshore waters. The colder water temperature, nutrient rich upwelling, and strong currents allow for many species that live in deeper water to survive in the shallower waters.[4]

The corals in this area, such as Primnoa pacifica, have contributed to the location being labeled as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.[5] P. pacifica is typically a deep water coral normally found between 150 metres (490 ft) and 900 metres (3,000 ft) however in the Tracy Arm it is found between 20 feet (6.1 m) and 100 feet (30 m) offering a unique opportunity for research.[4]


  1. ^ Lynn, Readicker-Henderson (2006). Adventure Guide Inside Passage & Coastal Alaska. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 241. ISBN 1-58843-515-6. 
  2. ^ "Sawyer Glacier". Norwegian Cruise Line. Retrieved 2007-06-11. 
  3. ^ "Adventure Bound Alaska". Weber. Retrieved 2007-06-11. 
  5. ^ Stone Robert P, Shotwell S Kalei. (2007). "State of deep coral ecosystems in the Alaska Region: Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands". In: Lumsden SE et al., eds. The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP-3. Silver Spring, MD: 65–108. Retrieved 2013-03-11. 

Coordinates: 57°54′41″N 133°24′08″W﻿ / ﻿57.91139°N 133.40222°W﻿ / 57.91139; -133.40222