On a recently Majestic Princess cruise trip to Alaska, we hiked through the beautiful Tongass National Forest (an interpretive trail) to spectacular views of Mendenhall Glacier up-close, after a guided whale watching tour.
The Tongass National Forest is also the largest national forest in the U.S.
This interpretive trail reveals how much the glacier has shrunk over the years. As one trail sign says, as the glacier retreated, Mendenhall Valley was uncovered and access for visitors increased. Wind-borne seeds and spores slowly colonized the exposed soils in the area. The view changed as large plants succeeded low growing forms. The mountains provide a recognizable and unchanging backdrop.
As I promised, here is the link to my other YouTube video: "Whale Watching: A Surprising and Joyful Encounter" | [ Ссылка ]
# Check out this book to learn more about "Mendenhall Glacier -Flowing Through Time" -[ Ссылка ]
# Here is an interesting read: "Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska's Tongass Rain Forest" - [ Ссылка ]
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