How Ice Explains Everything... at Kenai Fjords National Park
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มิ.ย. 2024
- On my recent Harding Icefield Hike, during a trip to Kenai Fjords National Park, I couldn't help but notice the ice. It's hard to miss at the Harding Icefield - there's 700 square miles of it - but I was also fascinated by just how much it impacted the entirety of the landscape here. Yes, there are icefields and glaciers, but the valleys and the fjords and the rivers and the plants and the animals - all of them were shaped, influenced, and molded by ice in some form or another. That includes ice both past and present. That trip was nearly 3 months ago now, but it was the inspiration for this video, as I sought to understand the world of ice at Kenai Fjords National Park and help bring that world to you. Enjoy!
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Sources and Resources:
akatlas.geology.buffalo.edu/
www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature...
www.nps.gov/articles/icefield...
npshistory.com/publications/ke...
www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature...
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/2...
Images and Music:
Storyblocks
NPS
Encyclopedia Britannica
Wikimedia Commons/Anvacher
Perrin Remonte
Alaska Paleoglacier Atlas - บันเทิง
Was up there back in 2019. The Harding Ice field hike was incredible and we also took a tour boat out to the glaciers and islands.
Saw seals, grey/hump/killer whales eagles, otters ect…
Incredible experience that everyone needs to enjoy
Wholeheartedly agree! We did the icefield hike this time and the tour boat last time and they've honestly been some of my favorite National Park experiences. Would recommend them to anyone!
Do it! Can you discuss the layering of fjords as well? You can have marine and freshwater species layered
I lived in Juneau, AK. That is where the Mendenhall Glacier empties into inland channel. Truly something massive and beautiful.
Haven't made it to SE Alaska yet, but that's where I want to go next time I make it up there!
Awesome presentation.
Thanks so much!
Great video, I live across from the Harding ice field on Kachemak bay. I can see Grewingk glacier and lake from my house. The Kenai mountains and Harding ice field protect us from the worst of Gulf of Alaska storms.
Oh man, so jealous! We hiked to Grewingk Glacier on our visit to Homer in '21. We packrafted around on the lake at it's base and had a magical time. The Kenai Peninsula is a special place!
Thank you for the awesome content and all the great videos!!!
Thanks for watching!
Glaciers sure know how to impact the landscape. Here in Michigan we still have a vast amount of eskers which we hike along formed from that massive ice sheet. Great presentation as always.
Thanks so much! I want to come visit Michigan soon - those National Lakeshores have been calling my name!
As a resident of AK, I love this video. These landscapes are amazing, Harding is amazing... And receding alarmingly. Thanks for all your content, Be well
Thanks so much for watching!
In 1985 I was thirteen and traveling through southwestern Canada, and we took the tour of the Columbia Ice field. We drove out onto the glacier in these busses with three axles and giant tires, and they let us off the bus for a short time. Even at the time it was of course super interesting. What I couldn’t imagine back then is how rare of an experience that would turn out to be. Fewer and fewer people can say they’ve walked on a glacier because glaciers are going away.
My first glacier experience was also in that area (in Banff) and I have a similar feeling looking back on it. It's been a privilege each time and I hope as many people can experience seeing a glacier as possible, both for their undeniable beauty, but also as a tangible reminder of what we stand to lose.
My sister-in-law was Supervisor in Yakutat, AK, Hubbard Glacier, Supervisor in Juneau, AK, Mendenhall Glacier. Been to Glacier Bay, Tracy Arms Fiords, hiking and boating in the inside passage around Juneau.
Have yet to make it to SE Alaska, but the next time I visit, that's where I want to go. These landscapes are so alluring to me and I can't wait to see more of them!
We visited in 2017 and among other things took the boat tour out to Aalik Glacier to watch massive chunks of ice calve off and fall into the ocean. Whales, eagles, sea otters, bears, seals, puffins, and beautiful scenery. I have often said that it was the best day I've ever spent at a National Park, and I've been to 38 of them. I would rank Kenai Fjords in the top 3 NP's I've visited, and it should not be missed if you find yourself in Alaska. The short hike to Exit Glacier is an interesting little walk as well.
After my latest visit, it's definitely become one of my favorites as well. The Harding Icefield is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen!
Alaska's national parks have fascinated me since I was a kid. Their incredibly huge sizes, isolation, and gargantuan natural features and natural forces seemed larger than life.
I would love to hear more about Kenai's shrinking glaciers, the effect it's having today, and what does the future of the park look like.
Great video! Thanks for doing it. Kenai looks so beautiful and the scale of the ice is mind-blowing.
I feel the same way! The whole state is like that for me - the scale of everything is so mind-blowingly large and I always feel so humbled just being there. Thanks for watching!
went kayaking through resurrection bay a few years ago before spending a lot of time in Wrangle-St. Elias. Seeing and walking around on those massive glaciers is truly otherworldly.
We did the same thing in Resurrection during this trip! Such a magical place. I love that area. Can't wait to go back.
Great video! Reminds me of Kristoff in Frozen saying "ice is my life!" That'd be a great opening 😊
That opening song would have been a banger😂
Was able to visit the Exit glacier when in Seward. Took the boat tour to Kenai. Was able to walk on the Matanuska Glacier while staying in Glacier View RV Park. All in all, Alaska is a beautiful place, and I was really surprised on how they treated us. Spent two months traveling the state and would love to go back someday. We did make it to McCarthy and the Kennicott Mine site. Took so long to get the last 60 miles that we didn't have much time to enjoy the area. With the road being the way it was, it won't be a destination if we make it to Alaska again.
It's a really wonderful state. I've been 2 times now myself and have loved every minute of it. Our last trip was pretty rainy and even forced us to abandon one of our planned stops (Valdez), but even despite all that we still had a great time. The scale of that state is so mind-blowingly large and I feel humbled just about every place I go. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip as well!
Great video, Cameron! Alaska is on my bucket list. ❤
I hope you're able to make it one day - it's a truly spectacular place. Thanks for watching!
Well done once again. Don’t give that guy who was negative any thought. Heading to Kenai Fjords NP in July of 2024. Will make Park #58 for us.
Thanks so much! I'm so excited for you to be able to visit Kenai! I'm sure you'll enjoy it - any specific plans while you're there?
This park has a profound effect on me too. The glacier’s majesty and awe left a strong impression on me. If you were to ask my family what my favorite souvenir was, it would be from this place because of how fascinating it was to me
Couldn't agree more. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this place since I got back. I think about the Harding Icefield almost every day and how it is still one of the most impressive things I've ever seen...
Just found your channel, really enjoy your videos. I noticed that we have a lot of similar books. I was wondering if you could make a video or post some recommended readings
Thanks for being here - glad to have you here in the community! I've been mulling over making some book videos for a while now (I get lots of recommendations for them) and it might be something I take a look at in the new year. Thanks for the suggestion!
Fantastic video!!! All my life I have heard of fjords and estuaries but didn't really know what they are. Thanks!!! Also ice sheets vs glaciers!
Glad I could help, thanks for watching! I learned a LOT about glacier terminology for this video lol. Here's a link I found helpful if you're interested: www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/glacier-terminology.htm
Also, this one on glaciers vs icefields vs icecaps vs ice sheets: www.nps.gov/articles/icefieldsicecaps.htm#:~:text=Ice%20fields%20and%20ice%20caps%20are%20smaller%20than%20ice%20sheets,drained%20by%20smaller%20outlet%20glaciers.
Can’t wait for you to explore Wrangell/St Elias NP and see the greatest concentration of glaciers in North America!
Can't wait to get out to Wrangell proper! We stopped at the Visitor Center near Glenallen on our way to Valdez and even that small taste had me looking forward to a bigger visit.
Very interesting and fascinating video🙏 thanks for sharing☺️
Thanks for watching!
Tour on resurrection bay is awesome out of Seward. Restaurant on Fox Island is a great time.
Had no idea there was a restaurant out there! Loved the boat tour though - we went out to Aialik Bay/Glacier and LOVED it. Such an incredible experience.
excellent video.
Thanks for watching!
I love your videos
Thanks so much, glad you're enjoying them!
Been up to the Harding Ice Field twice and kayaked to Aialik glacier. Would love a video about disappearing ice! Although we've got too much of that happening in my state of Washington.
PS I recently came across a video of a scientist who's made glacial flow time lapse videos using Landsat imagery from the last 50 years. Way cool!
I've heard the kayak trips out to Aialik are awesome! Noted on the video as well 👍
Can you do a video about the tongass national forest in southeast? or just southeast in general!!
Will definitely be covered at some point! Tongass has so many juicy stories that I'd love to dive into. Thanks for the suggestion!
This is all great stuff. Thanks for all you do. Idea for show: NPS just added 3 trails as "National Parks." Why those 3 ? Why not others? I cannot immediately see what standards/objectives are being promoted to designate something like the Ice Age Trail but not the PCT, etc. Benefits/detriments to being so-designated. Politics involved? etc. Thx
That's a great topic - well worth diving into. Thanks for the suggestion!
11:28 would places in Canada like bute inlet and knight inlet, not also qualify as fjord estuary ecosystems?
I would have thought so myself, along with a place like Iceland, but the NPS only lists those 6, which are what I included in the video: www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/fjord-estuary-ecosystem.htm#:~:text=The%20fjord%20estuary%20ecosystem%20is,of%20events%20for%20their%20construction.
I went to this National Park back in 1998 on a sailboat. We docked in Seward and hiked all around Resurrection Bay, including a trip to Harding Ice Field. It was indeed an arduous hike, but so well worth it!
Sounds like an awesome trip! Seward is such a cool place - I've been twice now and loved it each time.
I was recently looking up to see if there are any fjords in the lower 48 and it turns out I live next to two of them
Washington State?
@@NationalParkDiaries yup
This is totally random but i find it so strange that Leopard Seals are only found around Antarctica.. they found one up near Patagonia but idk why they don't spread around to other Area's of our worlds oceans? They definitely seem like they could thrive in certain areas if they were willing to get themselves there? If It's a temperature thing, the Pacific Ocean is freezing no matter where you are so that's confusing? I live in Oregon and the coastal waters are always cold. I can imagine them being successful in the Arctic but it would compete with polar bears for resources.. again, sorry random thought 💭
I'm no Leopard Seal expert, so take this with a grain of salt lol, but I think this might be a result of prey abundance. Leopard Seals prey on penguins (among other things), which are only found in the Antarctic/Southern ocean, so leaving that area they risk abandoning a stable food source. Great question though! I have random thoughts like this all the time, many of which have turned into videos on this channel lol
@@NationalParkDiaries I'm glad you relate to getting random thoughts that fuel your curious. I think you are totally right about the prey abundance. Just very curious if they would be able to adapt to other forms of prey? Slower Salmon in cold water, other seals, crabs, etc. i can't help but be curious if they would be capable of adaptation like that?
Good soup
Thank you!
Omg the north american ice sheets melted
Were all doomed
Oops. Opposite. Life has flourished
😳 w
Your content is interesting, but I’m struggling to listen. Dialogue and tone- slow pauses at the end of every sentence feel boring, unneeded and patronizing. Dont try to create drama with your verbal delivery; just let the content be the story. Just my opinion.
Unsubscribing today. Too many factual errors & mispronunciations, and the self-serving dialogue is tiresome. Talking out his @$$.
Sooooooo... like what?
Sorry to see you go. I have always been open to constructive criticism since I started this channel and am happy to be corrected on anything I got wrong, so feel free to share. Looking at some of your earlier comments here, it seems like my content just might not be for you, and that's okay, but I do put a tremendous amount of work into making these stories as accurate as possible and all of my sources are cited in the description.
I’m not seeing the factual errors. While I don’t have a degree in geology I do have a minor and this video is informative. What do you see that I am missing to justify your statement?