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Blue Pools

a man swimming in the water

Glacier Feature: Blue Pools

When you travel out on the glacial ice in Alaska, the experience is breathtaking, and the all-encompassing beauty is almost overwhelming. Beyond the majestic ice falls and kettle ponds, you start to enter crevasses of deep blues and beautiful ice features. From there, they open into one of the most popular and highly sought-after ice features, the pristine blue glacial pools.

Often, this means going miles away from the crowds and into the more remote areas of the glacier. We highly recommend taking the chance to make the most of visiting the blue pools by traveling by helicopter. These glacial waters are some of the more rare features you can see.

Pristine Glacier Pools

Typically, you can find blue pools that are not too far from meltwater, winding through and over solid white glacier ice. Where thicker glacial ice sheets exist, and there are depressions in the ice from meltwater and gravity, you can observe some of the most brilliant hues of blue water. This water is vibrant in color and looks almost like it belongs in warm tropical regions.blue glacier meltwater on white ice with mountains and clouds in the background

Alas, it is pretty frigid, resting slightly above a freezing temperature. Some brave souls have even taken quick swims in these pools that take their breath away, both from the raw beauty and the icy cold temperatures. Sometimes, you may even have a nearby waterfall pouring into and creating a seemingly everlasting pool of blue. In certain areas, you may even be able to climb a nearby ice wall while reveling in the beauty.

Deep Blues

We enjoy the views of these brilliant colors because of the reflection and refraction of light. The longer that light has to travel through water and ice, the bluer they appear. Blue light is the shortest wavelength of light and absorbs any longer wavelengths of light. (USGS) The density of the ice on the bottom and the depth of meltwater affect how blue the water can appear to us.

More often than not, on a glacier, there are many clear blue sky days. This allows for more consistent opportunities to be able to see some of the most vibrant colors of blue. When there is less overcast from any cloud coverage the more magnificent the blue hues appear to us.

Exploring Blue Pools

Some trips let you get up close and personal with these magnificent features and offer some added adventure, too. Going on an adventure like a private Advanced Trek, gives you the chance to get some added thrill. This tour brings you onto the ice to these fantastic areas, and you get to be up close and personal with some basic rope systems to help support you.

You will have your crew of professional glacier guides to assist you along the way. They have ample glacier knowledge, can help you with your gear, and answer any questions or concerns. And you might just capture some of your best Alaska memories this way, too. Sometimes, being there firsthand is the finest way to learn about these glacial gems.

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