22 May 2009 Cruising Hubbard Glacier, Alaska; Cruise Day 116
Although we were at sea today, we spent most of the time at
Hubbard Glacier, taking in the beauty, as well as learning about
this glacier and glaciers in general. Half of all the glaciers
in the world are located in Alaska. Hubbard is the biggest
tidewater glacier in the world, which means it ends in the sea.
It is about 76 miles long and six miles wide. As you know
glaciers flow. The ice starts at the top and flows (gets pushed)
down.The ice at the foot is about 400 years old. About 75% of
the world’s fresh water supply is in glaciers. Washington and
Alaska are the only two states that get any material drinking
water from glaciers. For more information about glaciers, check
these previous blogs from when we circled South America.