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 Photos By: Edward Biamonte
The majestic glaciers of Alaska beckon to residents of the world, calling, "Come, come see our splendor!" Alaska has an estimated 100,000 glaciers, covering three percent of the landscape. Two notable glacier destination favorites are Glacier Bay and the Hubbard Glacier.
Glacier Bay is a vast region of fjords and inlets, with 16 active tidewater glaciers, all of the five species of Pacific Salmon and 25 percent of the total number of bird species in all North America. Glacier Bay is in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, which spans 3.2 million acres. The experts say that over the past 200 years, Glacier Bay's ice has retreated 65 miles. Captain George Vancouver visited Glacier Bay in 1794, and the history books show then that the the entrance to the Bay was a thick wall of ice.
Hubbard Glacier is the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska. It is 76 miles from the source at Mt. Logan in the Yukon. Hubbard advances noticeably, and often tourists and visitors can witness as pieces fall into the bay.
Sheer ice aside, Alaska is comprised of two ecosystems: the tundra and the boreal forest. The tundra is found along the coast of Alaska and the boreal forest is found on Alaska's interior lands. The boreal forest is the Earth's coldest ecosystem - even colder than the arctic tundra. The boreal forest is the largest terrestrial ecosystem on Earth, covering 11 percent of the land on the planet, according to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation. The ground in both ecosystems is permanently frozen, called permafrost.
Despite these amazingly harsh conditions, flora and fauna flourishes in Alaska. Many wildlife migrate to warmer regions during the harshest of the climate periods, while plants and insects come out in full force during the brief warm periods. To make the most of the region, many animals have larger territory sizes as well. The gray wolf, in example, can have a territory as large as 1,000 square miles.
Hunting and fishing is a large part of Alaska's economy. In addition, controlled hunting helps keep population numbers down. According to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation, Anchorage is the only city in the nation to have a moose problem, within city limits. Rick Sinnott, Anchorage-area biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, estimates 200-300 moose live year-round in the Anchorage bowl area, which includes downtown. The population grows by another 600-700 moose in winter. Alaska raised nearly $20 million in revenues on sport fishing, hunting and trapping licenses alone last year.
And then there's Palin. No visit to Alaska is complete without due thought to the fair governess. Sarah Palin was selected as the Vice Presidential candidate to run with John McCain in 2008. She was elected as Alaska's first female, and the state's youngest governor in 2006. A former Miss Alaska, Palin brought a beautiful, smart and edgy feel to the Republican party. But her nomination was not without hassle.
Immediately upon nomination to the Vice Presidential spot on the Republican ticket, the media loved to hate Palin. The pundits were constantly mocking her, and her family dominated the news. "A cheap way to get American women on board with the Republican Party," they said. Palin, a lifelong resident of Alaska, knew oil issues and environmental issues, and brought in new punches to the pro-life and gun control fights. She was a lifelong cardholding member of the NRA, and supports hunter's gun rights as well as owning a weapon for protection.
From glaciers to wildlife to Palin, Alaska embodies smart beauty to be envied by the nation.
