{"id":12777,"date":"2026-02-19T08:10:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/?post_type=lesson&#038;p=12777"},"modified":"2026-03-25T06:35:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T06:35:28","slug":"mendenhall-glacier-and-ice-caves","status":"publish","type":"lesson","link":"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/lesson\/mendenhall-glacier-and-ice-caves\/","title":{"rendered":"Mendenhall Glacier and Ice Caves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><div class=\"class-box class-image\">\r\n\t<ul class=\"data-list\">\r\n\t\t<li>\r\n\t\t\t<a class=\"\" title=\"Journey around the World\" href=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/journeys\/journey-around-the-world\/\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"class-logo medium\" src=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Journey_around_the_World-Tall.png\" alt=\"Journey around the World\" title=\"Journey around the World\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/li>\r\n\t<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<!--<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<h2 class=\"class-title\">Mendenhall Glacier and Ice Caves<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>-->\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Key Information<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<h3 class=\"class-title\">Mendenhall Glacier and Ice Caves<\/h3>\r\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-table info-table\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"table-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t<table class=\"class-table\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<tbody>\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"class-table-title\">Type<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<td>Glacier and Ice Caves<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"class-table-title\">Length<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<td>13.6 miles<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\r\n\t\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Learning Point<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Mendenhall Glacier<\/strong> is a massive, <strong>13-mile-long river of ice<\/strong> in <strong>Alaska<\/strong> that looks like something straight out of a fantasy movie. It\u2019s famous for its <strong>stunning Ice Caves<\/strong>, where <strong>melting water carves<\/strong> out <strong>hollow tunnels<\/strong> under the glacier, creating a surreal world of <strong>glowing, electric-blue walls<\/strong>. However, because of <strong>rising temperatures<\/strong>, the glacier is <strong>retreating rapidly<\/strong>, making the <strong>caves both rare and potentially dangerous<\/strong> to enter. It\u2019s a <strong>breathtaking spot<\/strong> to see the raw power of nature firsthand, but it\u2019s also a sobering reminder of <strong>how quickly our planet\u2019s climate is changing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Project<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<ul>\n<li>Draw a picture of the Mendenhall Glacier and the Ice Caves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-gutena-tabs gutena-tabs-block gutena-tabs-block-77de37-56 class-container class-tab\"><ul class=\"gutena-tabs-tab tab-flex\"><li class=\"gutena-tab-title active\" data-tab=\"1\"><div class=\"gutena-tab-title-content icon-top\"><div class=\"gutena-tab-title-text\"><div>Overview<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"gutena-tabs-content is-layout-flow wp-block-gutena-tabs-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-gutena-tab gutena-tab-block gutena-tab-block-543fc0-6f active class-box class-image\" data-tab=\"1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66%\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69f72bf3ade9d&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69f72bf3ade9d\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Mendenhall Glacier\" class=\"wp-image-12908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/\" title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=338216\">Link<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33%\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69f72bf3ae499&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69f72bf3ae499\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"689\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Glacier_Cave-689x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Glacier Cave\" class=\"wp-image-12910\" srcset=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Glacier_Cave-689x1024.jpg 689w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Glacier_Cave-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Glacier_Cave-768x1141.jpg 768w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Glacier_Cave.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 689px) 100vw, 689px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">By Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps &#8211; <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external free\" href=\"http:\/\/www.photolib.noaa.gov\/bigs\/corp1964.jpg\">http:\/\/www.photolib.noaa.gov\/bigs\/corp1964.jpg<\/a>, Public Domain, <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=10545690\">Link<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Location<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-12777 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"584\" src=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier_Location.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Location of Mendenhall Glacier\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-12912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier_Location.png 790w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier_Location-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mendenhall_Glacier_Location-768x568.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-12912'>\n\t\t\t\tBy <a href=\"\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/User:Nzeemin\" title=\"User:Nzeemin\">Nzeemin<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:USA_Alaska_location_map.svg\" title=\"File:USA Alaska location map.svg\">File:USA Alaska location map.svg<\/a> for borders, rivers and coastline; by <a href=\"\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/User:Alexrk2\" title=\"User:Alexrk2\">Alexrk2<\/a><span class=\"int-own-work\" lang=\"en\">Own work<\/span> using<span typeof=\"mw:File\"><a href=\"\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:GMT_globe.png\" class=\"mw-file-description\"><\/a><\/span>&nbsp;This <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/map\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"w:map\">map<\/a> was created with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/en:Generic_Mapping_Tools\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"w:en:Generic Mapping Tools\"><span title=\"open source collection of about 80 command-line tools for manipulating geographic and Cartesian data sets\">Generic Mapping Tools<\/span><\/a>.<span typeof=\"mw:File\"><a href=\"\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Inkscape_Logo.svg\" class=\"mw-file-description\"><\/a><\/span>&nbsp;This PNG <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Computer_graphics\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"w:Computer graphics\">graphic<\/a> was created with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Inkscape\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"w:Inkscape\">Inkscape<\/a> ., <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" title=\"Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=22788433\">Link<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\r\n\r\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-table info-table\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"table-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t<table class=\"class-table\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<tbody>\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"class-table-title\">Location<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<td>Coast Range, Juneau, Alaska, United States<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\r\n\t\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Fun Facts<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<ul>\n<li>The Mendenhall Glacier is a &#8220;river of ice&#8221; that slowly flows downhill because of its own massive weight. It moves about 2 feet every single day.<\/li>\n<li>The ice inside the glacier often looks <strong>bright neon blue<\/strong>. This isn&#8217;t because of dye or magic; the ice is so thick and dense that it absorbs all the other colors of the rainbow and reflects only the blue light back to your eyes.<\/li>\n<li>Scientists have found <strong>&#8220;ghost forests&#8221;<\/strong> under the glacier. These are ancient tree stumps that were frozen hundreds of years ago.<\/li>\n<li>Because the glacier is always moving and melting, the caves are constantly changing shape\u2014or even disappearing and reappearing in new spots!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Past Lessons<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-table info-table\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"table-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t<table class=\"class-list\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<tbody>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"icon\">190<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"class-table-title\">March 16, 2026<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>(North America)<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"hide-this-row\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"3\">No Past Lessons<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\r\n\t\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading class-header\">Upcoming Lessons<\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"class-box\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-table info-table\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"table-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t<table class=\"class-list\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<tbody>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"hide-this-row\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"3\">No Upcoming Lessons<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\r\n\t\t\t<\/table>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-12777","lesson","type-lesson","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lesson\/12777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lesson"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/lesson"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/msealey.co.uk\/K12-Journeys\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}