Hubbard Glacier

The Hubbard Glacier is one of the few advancing glaciers in Alaska.  The calving face is 6 miles wide and the height of the face above the waterline is 300 feet.  The slabs of ice which break off from the face are known as "calves".  These calves form ice bergs if taller than 14 feet above the waterline.  Those smaller than ice bergs are known as "growlers" and make growling sounds as the ship hull slides by them.  Very low ship speed is a good idea when cruising in this water.  Our distance to the face of the glacier in this photo was about 5 miles.  Due to the massive proportions of objects it is difficult to realize their size from a photograph.

A major concern is that as the Hubbard Glacier advances, it may eventually block the Russel Fjord again resulting in an ice dam with rising water levels within the blocked fjord.  At one point this occurred and the water level rose to 60 feet before the ice dam opened.  In the event the fjord became blocked permanently, the water level could rise until it spills over and floods the world famous Situk River which is renowned by anglers for its massive pacific salmon runs.  The Situk is a mere 20 miles long but is a beautiful fishing paradise.