Located on a small island that lies between Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound the Five Finger Islands Light was the first U.S. government lighthouses opened in Alaska, on March 21, 1902. It became the last lighthouse in Alaska to be automated on August 14, 1984. The original wooden lighthouse burnt down and the current art deco structure dates back to 1935. We were lucky enough to be radioed by the lighthouse keeper as we sailed past in S/V BOB and were invited onto the lighthouse for a tour. Taking advantage of a rare bout of calm seas around the light, we headed over to the rocky outpost in our little skiff and were able climb the light. South East Alaska, USA.
Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) take a rest on the channel buoy marking the northern end of Wrangell Narrows with the notorious Devils Thumb in the background. Petersburg, Alaska, USA Love Life, Love Photography
An iceberg stranded at the end of LeConte Bay where it meets Frederick Sound. While the bay itself is 247m (810 ft) deep, an underwater terminal moraine stretches across the mouth of the bay. This shallow ridge marks the LeConte glacier’s greatest geologically recent advance and traps the largest icebergs as they float out into Frederick Sound. As seen here the tidal zone of the icebergs themselves are repeatedly exposed to the rise and fall of the water line as they rest on the bottom. This floods any trapped air in the ice exposing a deep blue hue which provides a stark contrast to the white tip of the berg which floats above the water line at high tide. The bay is a 12 mile-long fjord which feeds into Frederick Sound. Le Conte glacier has retreated 4km (or 2.5 miles) since 1879 and being south of the 57th parallel north, remains the southernmost tidewater glacier of the Northern Hemisphere. South East Alaska. USA
