Spotlight on Alaska
With glaciers galore and amazing wildlife, Alaska is a must-visit destination.
Alaska – the largest and most remote chunk of the United States – has been called “the last frontier”, but for many travellers yearning to experience the wonders of a pristine wilderness, it’s rapidly becoming the next frontier, one they’re putting first on their wish lists.
The sense of urgency has been driven by climate change, the awareness so much of our natural world is under threat and that ice caps are melting. Alaska is estimated to have between 27,000 and 100,000 glaciers, depending on how you count them (big glaciers tend to splinter off into smaller ones) and its southern coast offers spectacular viewing and easy access. By contrast, trips to the Arctic coast and way down south to Antarctica are far more challenging.
Alaska is best explored by sea – its capital, Juneau, is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Many cruise companies include the massive Hubbard Glacier, which is almost 10km wide, and the UNESCO World Heritage Glacier Bay on their itineraries and the most popular routes are at least a week long. They cover the fjords and island scenery of the Inside Passage to or from Vancouver in Canada or Seattle in the US. But for people with less time, the tidewater glaciers in Prince William Sound can be viewed on day trips from Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.
An added excitement for Australian travellers is the chance to see the marine life in these icy waters: orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, puffins, seals and walruses, among them.
The cruising season runs from April to September.
Land ahoy
Don’t overlook the attractions beyond the shore line. At more than 1.7 million square kilometres, Alaska offers a rich variety of scenery, including rainforests, Arctic tundra and an estimated 3 million lakes. It also boasts the world’s third-highest mountain, Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) – often photographed at Reflection Pond in the Denali National Park
Alaska’s ‘big five’ on land are grizzly bears, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and caribou; look up and you have a good chance of spotting the striking bald eagles, the national bird of the US. Your best chance of seeing bears, eagles and otters is during the salmon run (May to September, depending on the species). The chinook or king salmon usually go first, followed by red salmon, then silver salmon. AWW
For more information visit alaska.org