See the Mendenhall Glacier, Southeast Alaska

Just a few miles from Juneau, Alaska has one of the most visited glaciers in the world.

Also one of the most beautiful streams. 

Where does all this water come from?




Visiting Mendenhall glacier recently, I was surprised how much it had retreated just since my last visit in 1990.
The huge waterfall you see below was just at the front of the glacier then.

Keri was shocked.

 

In 1968 the photo taken from this perspective would have been of the front face of the glacier. Now the face is well over a mile up the channel from the waterfall.

Mendenhall glacier was also much broader and thicker only a few years ago.

656 feet were lost on its east side in 2004 and 269 feet lost on its west side in 2005. 
And this doesn't take into account the loss of the ice height!

This important video below plays at the Mendenhall glacier visitor center. Constantly.

350 Days of a Retreating Glacier

The next time you hear someone say there is no rapid climate change...  send them here.


See a video of the Mendenhall Glacier Retreat from 1958 to 2012 from GlacierChange.org


Visit each week for a new The Earth Minute.