National Geographic Sea Lion made its way into Petersburg today. This Scandinavian-inspired town was born from one simple idea: a settlement near fishing waters and readily available ice must be worth a pretty penny! Peter Bushman came up with this idea in the early 1900s and found the perfect spot. Right in the heart of one of the world’s most productive fisheries and close to LeConte Glacier, Peter and his crew could fish the rich waters and then put the product on ice, ready for shipping to Seattle. Our guests spent the day exploring Petersburg on bikes or walking in the Alaskan bog nearby, known as a muskeg, a peat bog with high acidity and low nutrients. This section of the forest has led to some interesting adaptations such as shortened growth and even carnivorous plants. What a special day!
5/15/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Inian Islands, AK
The drizzling rain of the early morning cleared off for the start of our Zodiac tours through the dazzling Inian Islands. The Islands are incredibly special due to their geographic location. As the northernmost opening to the Inside Passage, tons of billions of gallons of water funnel in from the Pacific Ocean and cause an oceanic phenomenon called upwelling, where cold, nutrient dense water rises to the surface. Marine animals flock to these waters for the availability of food and resources. We were able to view sea otters, sea lions, and many bird species. The Zodiac tours had some of the most amazing views of the coastal waters, spruce covered islands, and wildlife. We ended the morning with a visit to the Tidelines Institute, a non-profit educational institute founded by Lindblad Naturalist and PhD in climate science, Zach Brown. The afternoon was filled with presentations, briefings, and our guest slideshow to end the evening during our transit up to Sitka. It was a fantastic ending to a great trip.