Today we decided to drive to Seward down the Kenai peninsula to see a little of the area. We started down the Seward Highway along the Cook Inlet and then the Turnagain Arm to gorgeous views of the Chugach mountain range.
Very windy area between Anchorage and Whittier on Cook Inlet.
The Turnagain Arm is the finger of water between Anchorage and Whittier on the map.
Southern Alaska Map showing Kenai Peninsula.
We stopped along the way between Anchorage and Whittier and we noticed how much silt has built up in the inlet. It appears as if some day this area will fill in and become a valley. I took a wind measurement to see just how strong the wind was blowing. You can see the temperature and wind speed, 32 km/hr!
Anemometer wind instrument.
When we got to a small town named Girdwood we were met with fabulous views of glaciated mountains.
Girdwood
The town was devastated during the 1964 earthquake, when the land dropped 8-10 feet and the town was innundated with salt water. Here you can see the dead trees that resulted from salty water that killed their roots.
This land sunk 8-10 feet during 1964 earthquake causing water tio infiltrate the area killing the trees.
We drove all the way to Seward where we visited the Alaska Sea Life Center.
Crab at sea life center
A crab at the Alaska Sealife Center.
What impressed me at this center were the sea mammal exhibits, the salmon displays, and the sea bird exhibit.
Here you can see five species of salmon.
Display of Sockeye salmon
Display of Chinook salmon
Display of Chum salmon
Display of Pink salmon
Display of Coho salmon
*Five types of Pacific salmon: *
*Sockeye salmon, Chum salmon, Chinook salmon,Pink salmon, Coho salmon. *
I just love those Tufted Puffins!
Tufted puffin diving
Tuffted puffin diving at the Alaska Sealife Center.
This map shows the area that was affected by the devastating oil spill from the oil tanker the Exxon Valdez.
Map showing the spread of oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez in 1989.
Area that was affected by the oil spill is colored with blue stripes.
Here is a small lake we saw on our return trip to Anchorage.
Inland lake on Seward Highway