southeastern alaska united_states encompasses surrounding mountains glaciers proclaimed national monument february later december enlarged designated preserve covering area acres declared area acres largest protected world included area site extending area acre km2 included canada canada designated wilderness area covering acres body water covers area square miles km2 glaciers accounts park area large single solid ice till early 18th century started retreating evolved centuries largest protected water area park world known grand pacific feet thick miles width years retreated miles head bay inlet process left separate glaciers trail given bay captain proclaimed national monument february president bay branches islands channels holds prospects scientific exploration visual treat area popular cruise ship destination summer season restrictions imposed national_park_service numbers vessels operate day cruise ships tour boats charter vessels private vessels according national_park_service statistics calendar year people visited cruise ship passengers history believe existed minimum glacial periods ending year old record latest period glaciers park today said remnants glacial period earliest recorded history area starts russian expedition glaciers bay named subsequently established contact local inhabitants bay followed russians claim region master discovery expedition reported exploration coast blocked wall miles width metres thick vancouver claimed land britain conflict earlier russian claim resolved united_states purchased alaska russians claim treaty owning lands summit mountains situated parallel coast united_states canada agreed arbitration board draw exact boundary arbitration award given resolved alaska boundary dispute drawing line linked mountain peaks area agreement exact boundary retreat alter boundary coast extends northward result northern edge approaching boundary discovery gold area gold rush brought miners area scene meeting miners followed establishment mining district 1890s salt established fox farms established abandoned naturalist scientist pioneered focus world phenomenon research witnessed glaciers action noted ice retreated way mentioned references visited bay wall miles retreated sea miles stands retreated miles remnant old wall system major glaciers mentioned references wealthy railroad magnate arranged maritime expedition called alaska comprising elite community scientists artists photographers explore document coast spent months traveling seattle coast alaska siberia ways expedition intersection 19th century science 20th century science expedition claimed discovered species new science including new fossil species charted geographic distribution species discovered named glaciers friend members expedition instrumental governmental lobbying national park legislation says expedition instrumental documenting extent retreat seeking continental theories controversial sur les glaciers published year recorded arrival tourist ship entrance bay years central tourist trade head miles mouth fastest documented glacial retreat declared national monument centuries home land native tribes alaska oral traditions indicate displaced advance continue bay residents woven lives geography larger million acre km2 preserve preserve spectacular ensemble marine terrestrial life borders east north east international boundary wilderness provincial park british_columbia canada north waters border south pacific_ocean west president declared national monument objective clearly stated changed status national park reserve covering area acres including acres preserve acres declared wilderness bay encompasses acres mining claim groups acres allotted small private tracts reported limits combination glaciers snow capped mountain ranges ocean coastlines deep freshwater rivers lakes provide widely varying land hosts mosaic plant communities variety marine terrestrial wildlife covered square miles km2 glaciers accounts park area glaciers originating mountains elevation range feet named glaciers terrestrial glaciers tide water glaciers east arm bay west arm reach literal meaning breaking produce seven glaciers reported active glaciers depict phenomenon means break fall sea noise raising large waves eastern arm distance nautical miles glaciers western arm end nautical miles entrance bay nautical miles away national_park_service manages total acres marine waters covers coastline square miles km2 including reach coast outside coast line square miles km2 including islands coast line counting islands accounts statute miles deepest point bay feet sea level tides occurring hours tide range feet upper limit range reported feet according recorded findings glaciers retreating advancing stable retreating process attributed lesser snowfall hills raising temperatures winter season followed decrease cloud cover precipitation summer season studied researchers alaska association preserve service grant gps combined studies raised tide studies established fastest rates rebound world taking place region studies reported adjustments loading unloading producing significant stresses earth crust affect regional rising land continually changing texture shoreline park causing changes patterns erosion changes direct impact ecosystems park approached boats ships partly hiking trails miles miles shore line nearest road head airport small town known southern gateway air sea capital alaska miles approximate distance anchorage miles advancing retreating characteristics glaciers explained simple terms steady state snow getting converted ice hills ice lens water base bedrock gravity downwards good rock rubble water erosion result freezing temperatures exists year advances erosion effect hills gets reduced erosion sets rising temperatures glaciers start retreating unpredictable phenomenon observed glaciers process blocks ice detached break weather conditions year round crash sea noise creating boiling like closed ships decade earthquake magnitude scale account shattered ice blocks filled earthquake bay volcanic activity region pacific rim fire active recorded factors effects environmental changes occurring findings archaeological findings unearthed sites links region period prehistoric finding dates occupation region finding form house tools heavy wood working tools ground bay dated stated end thermal maximum climatic beginning little ice age interpreted comparison similarly placed locations region southern coast british_columbia type culture seen comparable culture existed historic times potential finding sites stated high aspects regard sacred homeland national_park_service takes view bay national park spiritual homeland homeland unit tribes oral history supports pushed migrated south advanced moved area retreated 1880s odd historic historic sites identified european americans integral people belonging clans settlements existed 1880s excursion inlet area known cemetery period located park area seasonal hunting gathering fishing way life woven central village shifting fishing hunting camps food source natives rich salmon fish resources area complex society evolved rich artistic traditions claimed fishing dependent lifestyle helped national monument years kept commercial fishing area national park fishing hunting activities curtailed certain religious administration closely interacting foster cultural heritage allowed access park harvest variety traditional use items spruce roots mountain goat hair weaving traditional blankets addition park planning establish near main office culture fully highlighted facilitate holding cultural events climate bay cool wet coastal temperate climate climatic zones outer coast records mild temperatures higher precipitation experiences snowfall upper colder heavy snowfall occurs lower experiences heavy rainfall year bay summer temperatures vary winter temperatures lie range minimum going annual precipitation form rainfall snowfall average days recorded precipitation days year precipitation range inches including feet annual snowfall highest recorded snowfall order feet flora fauna environment categorized main land ecosystems wet coastal western spruce forest alpine glaciers ice fields bay proper break major marine ecosystems marked continental shelf wave beaten coasts plants progressively moved retreated year old spruce forest presently exists entrance grading primitive plants head bay current local climate change glaciers retreating rate quarter mile year retreat glaciers exposed land areas result plant communities animal populations ranging pioneer species areas recently exposed glaciers climax communities older coastal alpine ecosystems emerged wild life general wild life identified fauna fauna marine fish species bird species species mammals recorded black brown seen zone frequent foraging seen rocks invariably spotted wandering beaches search salmon habitats black bears generally southern forested areas bay brown bears found northern recently zones occasionally black bears sighted near glaciers near town black bears black dots brown bears brown dots seen years travel routes identified easy tracks beaches stream beds river valleys commonly identified locations sighting bears cove cove locations black bears brown bears seen north tidal inlet west arm north east arm seen swimming bay crossing bank salmon favorite food apart sand bird eggs birds marine sighted lower region narrows waters good locations safe distance quarter mile marine sighted grey fin killer seals harbor seals northern fur seals sea harbor sea lions seen fauna land mammals sighted blue bears black tailed deer mountain goat wolf land river beaver red fox bats found species birds recorded bay include bald eagle golden eagle raven northern hawk owl crane jay ducks crow blue arctic fish fish species found bay pink salmon trout herring crabs shrimp salmon important food bears particularly late summer fall southern bay streams salmon seen northern bay consequent retreat glaciers streams emerging salmon food sources expected support bear populations years ahead succession occurred result retreat bay years succession occurred new wilderness stated raw landscape given like seeing owl feathers wilderness created resulted coastal forest plant species individual taxa recorded dense devil club shoreline landmarks odd glaciers identified terrestrial type major glaciers mountains order location entry identified national_park_service map entry bay read map small town followed islands main channel western channel inlet inlet glaciers followed inlet coming inlet entering cruising north main bay west shore fed field followed great pacific head bay east shore line queen inlet range hills feeds form western boundary highest mountains seen feet feet salisbury feet feet feet feet cooper feet major island opposite inlet midst main channel named naturalist identified tide water width miles length miles height feet turned terrestrial flow sea retreat rapid documented maximum position mouth retreating stage began intense flow rate feet year feet day result terrestrial flow reported feet day miles width feet height extends miles tributary retreating faster process retreat glacial till left large extending width feet water edge low tide named members professor geology known studies flow alaska alps origin flow rate feet day water edge width miles rises height feet stretches length miles flows view fast rate retreat turned tide water terrestrial particularly eastern western sediment deposits gradually filled eastern western margins inlet seen low tides central touches water edge recorded depth feet water high tide walls marks lateral deposits glaciers right rock faces named english visited originates east range width miles water face rises height feet depth feet waterline stretches miles ice flow rate estimated feet year noted central eastern ice face western seen grounded high tide range central stream developed seen shift position phenomenon attributed deposition sediment forms delta observed low tide results water turning brown tan inlet stunning mile long tide water glaciers miles away inlet inside largest adjacent followed glaciers glaciers ice blocks float inlet hazardous boating activities great caution closed boats june order protect harbor seal pups rises range east slopes mount salisbury westerly flow head mile southwest terminus miles northwest rock ice snow depict variety impressive colors grey blue white named baltimore maryland sponsored expedition advancing advance started grand pacific started inlet combined got attached 1990s broke rejoined times appears joined advancing single ice block waterfront width mile depth feet rises height feet stretches miles upstream submarine recorded example approached nearer miles sea volume ice blocks break loose cliffs visitors park come cruise ship view glaciers water got attached following decade glaciers merged merged times attached stated advancing foot steep ice face inlet inlet head scene ice snow sits cater corner inlet provides excellent views north west west shore line inlet steep rocky extends miles small stream beach formed miles channel seen center west shore inlet cove formation provides good camping grounds strong winds ice flows experienced location provides view inlet miles north location grand pacific located east head inlet extensive gravel seen inlet continues miles steep gravel shore line interspersed minor streams separated gravel miles long tide water begins south slope alaska canada border range elevation feet flows southeast northeast mile north terminus grand pacific miles northwest named famed french visited located deep end extends width mile extends upstream length miles till source southern slopes hill alaska canada border elevation feet named mountain alaska british_columbia grand pacific grand pacific head inlet north face covered gravel stones feet thick areas landslides cover eastern extending thirds width ice face active earlier 18th century single block ice captain vancouver saw present location miles inlet present site grand pacific width miles water depth feet average height feet stretches miles inlet western thirds formed tributary flow rate reported feet year feet day eastern reportedly moving rate feet year merged started got small stream separates glaciers range range unofficial mountain range located state alaska canadian province british_columbia southernmost range saint mountains northernmost section range situated southernmost section resides bay national park census area goes southeastern corner peaks range include highest point british_columbia meters bay coast snow clad peaks range capture moisture coming turn spawn park largest glaciers tallest peak range unlike harsh terrain officially canada referred mount located kilometers east pacific_ocean region mountain lies city borough summit british_columbia canada making highest point province designated point mountain named captain apparently unusually good weather encountered time variously translated called map russian chart captain map imperial_russian_navy called climbed moore
Glacier Bay Basin