This Gorgeous Ice Cavern Has An Ancient Forest Underneath

Situated in Southeast Alaska is the 13.6 mile-long Mendenhall Glacier which is one of the most scenic places in the state. The glacier is also home to various ice caves where an ancient forest was revealed in the last decade, due to the melting ice.

Magical ice cave at Mendenhall Glacier. Image credit: adam_gulkis
Ultimately, glaciers are a high amount of accumulated snow, which has compacted into ice. Unfortunately, these slowly moving rivers of ice have been retreating in Alaska as a result of the warming climate in Southeast Alaska and Mendenhall Glacier is also a victim of this process. It has retreated 1.75 miles since 1929 and will do so in the foreseeable future as well.

As Mendenhall Glacier is shrinking and retreating, the remains of an ancient forest have been revealed from under the melting ice. The preserved stumps and trunks are now exposed for the first time in over 2000 years.