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- > Kenai Fjords National Park
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Whales, Wildflowers and Waterfalls: the Wonders of Kenai Fjords National Park
It’s day two of your Kenai Peninsula Adventure. With every stroke of your paddle, you glide deeper into the protected waters of Resurrection Bay. Verdant mountains tower over you, reaching thousands of feet into blue sky. A bald eagle soars effortlessly overhead, scanning beneath the bay’s glassy surface for lunch. You rest your arms for a moment and feel the crisp air fill your lungs. All is quiet until a curious sea otter pops her head out of the water, barks hello then disappears under your kayak for a game of peek-a-boo.
Welcome to Kenai Fjords National Park. Established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the park spans over 650,000 acres of the scenic Kenai Peninsula, renowned for its spectacular glaciers and abundant marine wildlife. Kenai Fjords is also home to a portion of the Harding Icefield, said to be the largest of its kind in North America. More than 40 glaciers descend from the icefield's frozen flanks.
Paddle a sea kayak across Resurrection Bay in search of sea otters, harbor seals and porpoises. Hike to the base of Exit Glacier and, if spirit willing, continue 8 more miles to the summit for an extraordinary view of the 3002 mile Harding Icefield. Board a small ship for a naturalist-narrated fjord cruise for close viewing of calving glaciers, sea lions, humpback and orca whales, puffins and kittiwakes.
Relax your mind, energize your body ignite the adventurer within as we explore the wonders of Kenai National Park.
Did you know…
- The Harding Icefield is the largest icefield solely contained within the United States. It accumulates 400-800 inches of snow each year and it takes between 30-50 years for that snow to compress into glacial ice.
- Even though the Exit Glacier road in Kenai Fjords National Park is closed to cars during the winter months, you can visit Exit Glacier in winter by skis, dogsled, snowshoes or snowmobiles.
- There are 3 distinct types of Orca whale that roam the waters around Kenai Fjords National Park: “residents” that feed on fish, “transients” that feed on marine mammals and less frequently viewed “offshore” orcas that stay in open water feeding on large fish – including sharks.
- Biologists in Kenai Fjords are trying to learn “how close is too close?” By approaching black bears on foot and by boat, researchers are able to observe at what distance bears are disturbed by humans. Preliminary results indicate that a distance of 100 meters or more is generally tolerated by bears.
- “Killer Whales” or Orcas are actually quite friendly and often inquisitive about humans. No wild killer whale has ever hurt a human being.
Curious to learn more? Click here for more information on Austin-Lehman Adventure’s Kenai National Park vacations:
Alaska Family: Glaciers & Wildlife (Kenai Peninsula Family Adventure) >
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