Lituya Glacier, Tidewater glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, United States.
Lituya Glacier is a tidewater glacier in Glacier Bay National Park that stretches about 18 kilometers from the Fairweather Range to Lituya Bay. The ice terminates directly into saltwater, creating a dramatic boundary between the mountain landscape and the ocean.
The glacier was charted by Russian sea captains in the early 1800s and marked on nautical maps. Since its first documented observation, it has been retreating and is now an important site for researchers studying glacial movement.
The name comes from the Tlingit language and describes how the bay is enclosed by a coastal point. Visitors can see this geographical feature directly when viewing the glacier and the surrounding landscape.
Visitors can view the glacier from guided boat tours departing from Glacier Bay National Park, with better visibility during warmer months. Bring warm clothing and be prepared for changing weather and rough water conditions.
In 1958, glacial movement triggered a massive landslide in the bay that generated one of the largest recorded tsunamis in history. This event remains one of the best-documented natural disasters of modern times.
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