Malaspina Glacier and Cruise Ship. Alaska Seascapes
by Connie Fox
Title
Malaspina Glacier and Cruise Ship. Alaska Seascapes
Artist
Connie Fox
Medium
Photograph - Outdoor Color Photo
Description
After comparing this image with the travel agenda provided by the captain of our ship and a satellite image, I have identified this geological masterpiece as the Malaspina Glacier in southeastern Alaska, in Yakutat Bay, adjacent to Glacier Bay. The Malaspina is the largest piedmont glacier in the world. Here it is shown with a cruise ship in the deep blue waters in a scene that is mostly blue.
Piedmont glaciers differ from tidewater glaciers in that none of their area actually touches the water, as tidewater glaciers do. They can, however, be huge, as is this one. You will find other glaciers in my Alaska Gallery that have what resembles the apron of a driveway that comes to the edge of the water. Sometimes, however, the faces of tidewater glaciers are more like walls, both above and below the surface of the water. In the case of the Hubbard Glacier, they can even break off from below the surface because the glacier is advancing, or getting larger.
Such is not the case, though, with this glacier. Situated at the head of the Alaska Panhandle, the Malaspina Glacier is about 40 miles (65 km) wide and 28 miles (45 km) long, with an area of about 1500 square miles (3900 km), larger than the state of Rhode Island.
The Malaspina is up to 600 metres (2,000 ft) thick in places, with the elevation of its bottom being estimated to be as much as 300 metres (980 ft) below sea level. Radar data and aerial photographs dating back to 1972 provide evidence that the Malaspina-Seward glacier system lost about 20 m (66 ft) of its thickness between 1980 and 2000. Because the glacier is so large, that amount of shrinkage was sufficient to contribute 1/2 of one percent of the rise in the global sea level. Though the glacier is melting (and not all glaciers are), the Malaspina is still larger than the state of Rhode Island.
Nearly all of the Malaspina Glacier is encompassed by the southeast lobe of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. In October 1969, the glacier became a National Natural Landmark.
Copyright 2015 Connie Steitz Fox
All Rights Reserved
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CONTESTS: A Top Finisher in the Small Boat | Big Ocean Contest, April 2023.
FEATURED on the homepages of Premium FAA Artists, Forward Exposure, Landscapes and Landmarks, and National Parks, December 2015. Featured in Images That Excite You, August 2017; Nikon Full Frame Camera and Just Perfect, July 2020.
Uploaded
October 5th, 2015
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Viewed 411 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 04/19/2024 at 9:58 PM
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Comments (6)
Tatiana Travelways
I'm delighted to feature your beautiful artwork on the front page gallery of the "Travel Art" group, at Fine Art America! :)
Steve Gass
Wonderful image, must be stunning in person!
Connie Fox replied:
Thank you for your comment, Steve. It's definitely stunning in person--almost overwhelming, in fact. If you have a chance to go, I recommend the Fairbanks to Vancouver (southward) land-and-sea itinerary. It's so worth it and far less touristy. I also recommend a small ship like the Pacific Princess that can get close to the glaciers. I do hope you'll book it. Late August is good.
Judy Vincent
This image is being featured in the “Photography ONLY – Landscapes and Landmarks” group – one of the most active groups on Fine Art America featuring the best landscape photographers in the world! Congratulations on your excellent work!
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