Bering Glacier

The Bering Glacier stretches across approximately 1,650 square miles of south-central Alaska, extending into Vitus Lake with its terminus reaching toward the Gulf of Alaska through dynamic ice flows.

Named after explorer Vitus Bering, this glacier has retreated up to 12 kilometers since 1900 due to rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns documented through satellite imagery.

Indigenous communities and local residents incorporate the glacier into their oral histories and traditional stories, viewing its changing state as an indicator of regional environmental health.

Visitors can access the glacier through guided helicopter or boat tours departing from Anchorage, requiring appropriate weather gear and consultation with local operators for safe excursions.

The glacier exhibits surging behavior every two decades with ice velocities reaching up to 12 meters per day, making it one of North America's most active glacial systems.

Location: Alaska

GPS coordinates: 60.30220,-143.42000

Latest update: July 25, 2025 20:40