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Glacier Bay National Park is the
most popular destination on most inside passage cruises. What is the
attraction? Glacier Bay Park is
3.3 million acres of green forest, steep fjords, and 16 tidewater glaciers.
In addition, the variety of marine life is incredible including humpback
whales, harbor seals, porpoises, and sea otters. Other wildlife
includes brown and black bears, wolves, moose, mountain goats and hundreds
of species of birds. With so many
glaciers in one area, keep your eyes and ears open for the incredible sights
and sounds of ice calving into the water.
Tlingit ancestors had been settled in Glacier Bay for approximately 15,000
years before John Muir in 1879 asked the Tlingit to navigate him through the
severe and wondrous world of Glacier Bay. The Tlingit civilization flourished in one of the harshest
environments on the planet, where sophisticated survival technology such as
watercraft, snares and specialized fishing gear were part of their life.
Deep reverence and an intimate dependence for all things in nature made them
devout trustees of their environment, bound to protect and preserve the
delicate ecosystem.
Today this delicate ecosystem is protected by the National Parks
Services. They issue yearly permits to cruise companies for visits to
Glacier Bay. These permits are highly coveted, and many requirements must be met by the
cruise line before obtaining these permits.
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