While it’s not easy to detect by visitors, the Mendenhall Glacier is receding rapidly meaning the face of the glacier and the surrounding areas are changing on a daily basis. Also known as Sitaantaagu, Mendenhall Glacier is found 12 miles away from the center of Juneau, in the Mendenhall Valley. For the people in this region, the glacier represents their main freshwater source, and the rapid retreat of the glacier has endangered their main source of water. It … The native Tlingit Indians named the glacier Sitaantaagu: The Glacier behind the Town or Aak’wtaaksit: The Glacier behind the Little Lake. Mendenhall Glacier is a very popular tourist destination, conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, so if you happen to be in Juneau or are planning a trip there, a visit at least to the glacier is a must. Featuring vivid blue ice and awe-inspiring views of the magnificent Coast Mountains, the Mendenhall Glacier is a natural wonder. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! As with the Mendenhall Glacier Trek, if open and accessible, your guide will let you experience the enchantment of the Mendenhall ice caves before continuing up to the top of the glacier. Expect to spend approximately 1-2 hours exploring the glacier … A well-established visitor’s center is just 13 road miles from downtown Juneau, and it shouldn’t be missed. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Located approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau is one of the most beautiful glaciers easily accessible to visitors. And it is one of the 38 glaciers flowing down the Juneau Icefield. As a protected area, it’s part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area which covers over 5,000 acres in the Tongass National Forest.. The glacier slowly scours the bedrock and grinds down its 13-mile journey to Mendenhall Lake. Be amazed by the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Mendenhall Glacier, and take to the water on a whale-watching cruise. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; two of these, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Lemon Creek Glacier, are visible from the local road system; the Mendenhall glacier has been generally retreating; its front face is declining both in width and height. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It was originally named Sitaantaagu (“the Glacier Behind the Town”) or Aak’wtaaksit (“the Glacier Behind the Little Lake”) by the Tlingit Indians. Only 13 miles from Juneau, the glistening ice of Mendenhall Glacier flows majestically for 12 miles between towering mountains. As with the Mendenhall Glacier Trek, if open and accessible, your guide will let you experience the enchantment of the Mendenhall ice caves before continuing up to the top of the glacier. The glacier is about 12 miles (19 km) long, located in the Mendenhall Valley. Though the glacier can feel like another planet, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are surprisingly easy to get to. Note that the city bus drops visitors a mile and a half from the visitor center so plan accordingly. But it also faces real danger from global warming, and soon, it may become one of the extinct wonders of the world, the need to preserve such surreal natural occurrences is the need of the hour. The glacier is about 12 miles (19 km) long, located in the Mendenhall Valley. Here are some more facts about this interesting natural phenomenon. This full-day adventure is not for everyone, but geared towards those looking for a challenge and ready to hike to get there. Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska. Interesting Facts About Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, US Richa Singh Jun 9, 2020 Mendenhall Glacier is a spectacular 19-km-long ice mass in southeastern Juneau, Alaska, US. Explore Mendenhall Glacier from a much closer perspective on the Mendenhall Glacier Trek Tour. Located a short drive outside Juneau, Alaska in the Tongass National Forest, the glacier is a sight to behold. As a protected area, it’s part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation … The Visitor's Center, included with the tour, provides a … This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. (Photo … The Mendenhall Glacier is a breathtakingly beautiful place in blue and white, where water runs over rocks under blue ceilings inside a partially hollow glacier. … Here are some interesting facts about the glacier: It is about 12 miles long, 1.5 miles wide and it rises about 100 feet above the surface of the lake. Updates? Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier. ◼ It is the remnant of the ‘Little Ice Age’ over 3000 years ago. 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. Nugget Falls, also known as Nugget Creek Falls or Mendenhall Glacier Falls, is a waterfall downstream of the Nugget Glacier, at the base of Bullard Mountain, in the U.S. state of Alaska. Is the glacier … ◼ It’s a receding glacier (100 to 150 ft [30 to 45 meters] every year). Why is the Ice Blue? Mendenhall Glacier is a spectacular 19-km-long ice mass in southeastern Juneau, Alaska, US. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Thickest ice 600 meters (1,968 feet) at the “Flux Gate,” mid-length on the glacier, below the confluence of the North and South Branches, elevation 680 meters, (2,230 feet).3 2008Estimated depth of glacier below Mendenhall Lake level 65 meters (213 feet). We hope you enjoy this website. The breathtaking beauty of Alaska comes thru vividly. As well as humpback whales, there's a good chance of spotting bald eagles, blue heron, and … According to the Junean Icefield Research Program, it has receded 12 miles since 1958. Take a self-guided stroll, examining the Glacier for multiple angles and exploring some of the trails in the area. Traffic across Mendenhall Lake to and from the face of the Mendenhall Glacier and a nearby ice cave was heavy Feb. 16, 2019, just as it has been most weekends since freeze-up. Other articles where Mendenhall Lake is discussed: Mendenhall Glacier: Adjacent Mendenhall Lake began to form about 1900 and has become about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and 220 feet (65 metres) deep near the centre of the glacier’s face. 315 reviews. The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the many glaciers flowing off of the majestic Juneau Ice Field—a dramatic, 1,500-square-mile expanse of glaciated ice and rugged mountain peaks located in the southeastern panhandle of Alaska. ◼ It looks amazingly beautiful due to its blue-colored hue, the ice absorbs all colors of the spectrum except blue, which it reflects back. ◼ The deposited glacial matter is known as ‘Moraine’, it is estimated to be ½-inch every year between Juneau and Douglas Island. Be amazed by the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Mendenhall Glacier, and take to the water on a whale-watching cruise. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Glacier Fun Facts. Expect to spend approximately 1-2 hours exploring the glacier before returning to the canoe. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. The glacier and surrounding landscape is protected as part of the 5,815 acres (2,353 ha) Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a federally designated unit of the Tongass National Forest. The glacier originally had two names: Sitaantaagu … The Mendenhall Glacier Trek is not your everyday adventure, and neither is the challenging trek to get there, but what an experience when you reach the majestic Mendenhall Glacier and explore this eerie blue world of ice, from deep crevasses and moulins (steep shafts) to crystal-clear meltwater streams and emerald-green pools. Arguably one of Juneau, in the Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall Glacieris one the! Few decades due to the glacier is a spectacular 19-km-long ice mass southeastern... Before returning to the public M. Truffer receded 12 miles ( 19 km ) long located... 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