Hubbard Glacier and Yakutat Bay in Alaska

Hubbard Glacier is North America's largest tidewater glacier

Cruise ships sailing from Seward often stopover at Yakutat Bay on the Alaskan panhandle.

Hubbard Glacier, which is found in Disenchantment Bay at the end of Yakutat Bay, is one of the over 110,000 glaciers in Alaska and North America's largest tidewater glacier. Hubbard Glacier was named in 1890 for Gardiner G. Hubbard, the founder of the National Geographic Society.

As a ship enters Yakutat Bay, Hubbard Glacier can be seen from over 30 miles away. This massive Alaska glacier is a staggering 76 miles long, 6.5 miles wide, and 1200 feet deep. Its face is over 400 feet high, which is as high as a 30-40 story building.

The Malaspina Glacier is also found in Yakutat Bay. Malaspina is a piedmont glacier, does not reach into the bay, and is difficult to see from a ship, even though it is about the size of Switzerland!!

All Alaska cruise itineraries include at least one glacier. Alaska is home to over 50 percent of the world's glaciers, ranging in size from a few feet to many miles in area.

The Regent Seven Seas Mariner approaches the icy waters of Yakutat Bay and Disenchantment Bay.

The "face" of a glacier often looks like the glacier has been cut, leaving a straight edge at the terminus of the glacier.

Seals can be differentiated from sea lions because they do not have (1) articulated flippers that bend like elbows for climbing and (2) exposed ear folds.

Stellar sea lions are easily seen in Alaska because they are often lying on buoys. Since seals do not have articulated flippers, they cannot climb up on the buoys or piers. They can drag themselves onto flat surfaces like this small iceberg.

Here's a photo of Steller sea lions for comparison. These Steller sea lions are found most days on this buoy near Petersburg, Alaska.