AUGUST 4, 2002


The skies turned from gray to blue when we entered College Fjord in the late morning.  We got on deck early to stake claim to a perfect spot in the front of the ship.
We were surrounded by white snowy mountains as we entered the bay.  The tidewater glaciers poured down to the water.  The water was like glass and the mountains reflected in the bay.  As we approached the glaciers we enjoyed watching the dozens of sea otters floating in the water below the boat.
College Fjord gets its name from the glaciers, which are named after colleges on the eastern coast of the US.  The deck was crowded as we got closer to the Harvard Glacier.  The glacier spreads across the end of the bay.
Another spectacular glacier was the Bryn Mawr Glacier.  Look closely and you can see a waterfall of melted glacial water pouring out at the bottom of the glacier

 
As we drew closer to the Harvard Glacier we discovered that the black spots on the many icebergs floating in front of the glacier weren't dirt - it was harbor seals!  There had to be at least a hundred seals enjoying the beautiful weather while lounging on the ice! It was fun to watch them slide into the water are the boat got closer!
The naturalist on board the ship said she had never been this close to the Harvard Glacier as we did on the gorgeous calm day.  We waited patiently to hear a crack and watch a chunk of the glacier fall into the water.  Such an event is called calfing!
We hated to leave College Fjord!  Our last day on board the Dawn Princess was the highlight of my trip! 
 
 
 
 

 

ON TO SEWARD, ALASKA

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