The Many Glaciers of Alaska

Alaska has more glaciers than any other U.S. state, with an estimated 100,000 glaciers, from small alpine ice fields to immense rivers of ice stretching for miles. Covering roughly 5% of the state’s land area, they occur in mountain ranges from the southeast panhandle to the Arctic. Notable examples include Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, and Glacier Bay’s tidewater glaciers. Glaciers shape Alaska by carving valleys, forming lakes, and carrying rock and sediment downhill. They support freshwater systems and draw visitors to hike, kayak, cruise, and watch ice calve into the sea. As temperatures rise, many are changing: some retreat rapidly, while others remain stable or advance under local conditions. Studying them helps scientists understand climate patterns, sea-level rise, and the changing far north.