Tyndall Glacier, Valley glacier in Valdez-Cordova, Alaska.
Tyndall Glacier is a valley glacier in the Saint Elias Mountains that flows from Mount Saint Elias for about 19 kilometers until it terminates in Taan Fjord within Icy Bay. The ice surface serves as a landing strip for bush planes bringing mountaineers to attempt the climb of Mount Saint Elias.
The glacier reached its greatest extent before 1794 and then began retreating. The retreat accelerated after 1905, with the most dramatic ice loss occurring between 1938 and 1961.
The glacier carries the name of John Tyndall, an Irish scientist whose work shaped our understanding of how ice and climate interact. This naming reflects how exploration and science are woven into the geography of Alaska.
Access to the glacier is only by bush plane, as the remote location has no road access. Visitors should bring warm clothing and sturdy equipment since weather can change quickly and ice conditions are challenging.
In 2015, a massive landslide at the glacier triggered one of the largest tsunamis ever caused by glacial activity in this region. This rare disaster demonstrated how dramatically ice can transform the landscape.
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