Inside Mendenhall ice caves

Mendenhall Glacier, a 19km-long mass of ice in Juneau, Alaska, is a popular tourist attraction. Few visitors, however, ever see the glacier from its most spectacular vantage point " inside it.

Mendenhall Glacier, a 19km-long mass of ice in Juneau, Alaska, is a popular tourist attraction. Few visitors, however, ever see the glacier from its most spectacular vantage point " inside it.

Published Jan 6, 2014

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Juneau, Alaska - Mendenhall Glacier, a 19km-long mass of ice in Juneau, Alaska, is a popular tourist attraction. Few visitors, however, ever see the glacier from its most spectacular vantage point – inside it. Rising global temperatures have caused the glacier to start melting. It has receded by more than 3km since 1958. Water has carved caves into the interior, creating surreal, turquoise-toned worlds whose shapes are ever changing.

A trip to the Mendenhall ice caves requires an arduous journey. It involves a kayak ride or long hike, an ice climb, and faith that the melting caverns won’t collapse in on you – but the landscapes are a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

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