Kenai Fjords National Park and Preserve
| Kenai Fjords National Park covers a stretch of the southern coast of Alaska, where the mountains meet the sea, creating inumerable fjords, bays, and inlets. The coastal mountains are topped by the Harding Icefield from which multiple glaciers march down to the sea. The park is home to Killer Whales, Humpback Whales, Dall Porposies, Sea Lions, Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, and many species of Sea Birds. The park is best seen from a tour boat, which leave from the town of Seward. |
|
| Kenai Fjords from a tourboat. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Humpback Whale breaches surface. The whales will circle around a school of fish, emitting bubbles to scare the fish and herd them into a ball. The whale then bulldozes through the coralled fish with its mouths open. The sea birds know this and will follow the whales to dive on the trapped fish. |
Sea Lions sunning themselves. |
Killer Whale fin. |
|
Dall porpoise riding the bow of the tour boat. These porpoises will often race along side the bows or sterns of fast moving boats. They can swim at up to 55 miles per hour. |
|
Sea Otter floating on its back. |
| Holgate Glacier | |
|
|
| Tidewater Glaciers | |
|
|
| Exit Glacier is a section of Kenai Fjords that is easlly accessible by car. Here you can walk close to the terminus of a glacier | |
Exit Glacier in the distance. |
|
| Exit Glacier closeups. | |
|
|
| Water melting off Exit Glacier feeds a stream | |
|
|
All images ©John Donohue 1995,1996,2002