Chenega Glacier, Tidewater glacier in Prince William Sound, Alaska, US
Chenega Glacier is a tidewater glacier in Prince William Sound that flows from the Sargent Icefield down to the ocean at Nassau Fjord. The ice terminus meets saltwater directly, creating a dynamic interface where chunks of ice regularly break away into the fjord below.
The glacier was first documented and named by the United States Geological Survey in 1905. The name connects to Chenega Island and its community, reflecting how geographic features in this region were catalogued during Alaska's early exploration period.
The Alaska Marine Highway System commemorated this natural formation by naming their ferry MV Chenega after the glacier.
Access to the glacier comes through guided boat tours departing from Whittier, with the best viewing conditions occurring during warmer months when ice calving is more frequent. Visitors should dress warmly for conditions on the water and near the ice, as temperatures remain cool year-round.
The glacier takes its name from nearby Chenega community, which experienced devastating effects from the 1964 tsunami. The event reshaped settlements throughout the Prince William Sound area and remains part of the region's living memory.
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