My family just returned from an Alaskan cruise, and I wanted to post some of the beautiful nature and wildlife photos we took while there. Although a cruise is certainly not an eco-friendly travel option, the trip was wonderful, made even more so by the friends we vacationed with.
One of our favorite excursions was whale watching, where we saw about eight humpback whales in Auke Bay, Juneau. We were close enough to hear them breathing. I managed to capture several of their tail fins after diving under as well as a calf who showed more of himself while playing with a sea lion.
We had anticipated seeing lots of glacial action, however, due to a medical crisis with one of the ship’s guests, the Tracy Arm Fjord part of our trip was cancelled. Still, we managed to see Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.
Did you know that 10% of the earth is comprised of glacial ice, which store about 75% of the world’s fresh water? Glaciers look blue when they are very dense, white when there are many air pockets in the ice and gray when they are affected by pollution.
Bald eagles were everywhere, their nests high up in the evergreens. I managed to get a closer view of this male eagle who was calling for his mate. (She flew in shortly afterwards to their nest in the branches below.)
Salmon are abundant in Alaska (Chinook, Sockeye, Coho, Keta and Humpback). From the cruise ship, we saw salmon leaping in the ocean, and when we were on land, they were swimming in the rivers and bays. As it was summer, they had come home to Alaskan waters to spawn.
A few more scenic views of Alaska…
After our cruise, we stayed a few days in Seattle where we visited Woodland Park Zoo. While I have conflicted feelings on animals in zoos, this was a beautiful one that provided animals expansive habitat space as well as up-close viewing. Here are a few of my favorites (three gorillas, a mother lion with cubs, and a barred owl).
I need to return to Alaska one day, to see the miles of calving glaciers I missed this time. The parts of Alaska we did see were beautiful — pristine, serene and unforgettable.
What was your favorite place you visited this year?
