Thursday, September 4, 2025

Taku Glacier

Taku Glacier is a tidewater glacier located in Taku Inlet in Alaska, just southeast of the city of Juneau. Recognized as the deepest and thickest alpine temperate glacier known in the world, the Taku Glacier is measured at 4,845 feet thick. It is about 36 miles long and is largely within the Tongass National Forest.

The glacier was originally named Schultze Glacier in 1883 and then the Foster Glacier in 1890, but Taku, the name the local Tlingit natives had for the glacier, eventually stuck. It is nestled in the Coast Mountains and originates in the Juneau Icefield. It’s the largest glacier in the icefield and one of the southernmost tidewater glaciers of the northern hemisphere.

Due to the positive mass balance, more snow currently accumulating than snow and ice melt, and the fact that it was no longer losing mass to icebergs, Taku Glacier has become insensitive to the warming that has impacted all other glaciers of the icefield. This has driven its advance.

We were able to get a bird’s eye view of the glacier as we traveled by helicopter with North Star Trekking en route to our dog sledding excursion during our Carnival Legend stop in Juneau. This photo gives you an idea of how massive this glacier really is.

Latest

Discovering Nature’s Beauty at Elkhart’s Wellfield Botanic Gardens

Elkhart, Indiana is full of many hidden gems. One...

Sangiacomo Family Wines Shines in Sonoma’s Historic Year of the Vintner

2025 is officially The Year of the Vintner, thanks...

National Ginger Cat Appreciation Day: Celebrating the Playful Spirit of Our Orange Friends

Today we’re celebrating one of the most iconic and...

Indiana Barn Foundation Hosts Historic Agricultural Tour on September 13th

The Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau has partnered...

Don't miss

Discovering Nature’s Beauty at Elkhart’s Wellfield Botanic Gardens

Elkhart, Indiana is full of many hidden gems. One...

Sangiacomo Family Wines Shines in Sonoma’s Historic Year of the Vintner

2025 is officially The Year of the Vintner, thanks...

National Ginger Cat Appreciation Day: Celebrating the Playful Spirit of Our Orange Friends

Today we’re celebrating one of the most iconic and...

Indiana Barn Foundation Hosts Historic Agricultural Tour on September 13th

The Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau has partnered...

The Most Beautiful Places To Stop On Your Trip Across Thailand

One of the destinations that’s most prized for aesthetic...
Amy Harris
Amy Harris is a writer and photographer who has been traveling for 20 years and flown over 2 million miles to visit over 80 countries on 6 continents. She is a freelance photographer for Invision by Associated Press, AP Images and Rex/Shutterstock. Her work can be seen in various publications and websites including: Rolling Stone, AP Images, National Geographic Books, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Forbes.com, Lonely Planet Travel Guides, JetStar magazine, and Delta Sky Magazine.

Discovering Nature’s Beauty at Elkhart’s Wellfield Botanic Gardens

Elkhart, Indiana is full of many hidden gems. One of the most beautiful areas to view nature in Elkhart is at the Wellfield Botanic...

Sangiacomo Family Wines Shines in Sonoma’s Historic Year of the Vintner

2025 is officially The Year of the Vintner, thanks to the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance. Honoring the 200th Anniversary of the first grape...

National Ginger Cat Appreciation Day: Celebrating the Playful Spirit of Our Orange Friends

Today we’re celebrating one of the most iconic and lovable felines out there—the ginger cat! With their fiery orange coats, bold personalities, and endless...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here