On Sunday, March 11th our group went to Seward, Alaska. We traveled out of Anchorage on Seward Scenic Highway and stopped several times to take pictures of the beautiful mountains and water.
We almost didn't go to Seward because of an avalanche risk. On our drive we saw multiple signs that said "Avalanche Area- X miles" and were instructed not to stop. There were also bars, like on railroad tracks, that could close the highway in case of an avalanche. If an avalanche were to occur, there would be no way to travel from Seward to Anchorage due to a single highway with no backroads. That would severely isolate the small towns in the area and delay medical response time if needed. We got a small taste of this on our way back when a traffic jam caused by a multicar collision closed the highway for over an hour.
When we arrived in Seward, I was blown away by the view. It was obviously a fishing town, boats everywhere and the docks were full. But what impressed me most was how the town had managed to nestle into the wilderness. Cabins were perched precariously on mountainsides, "tsunami escape route" signs were posted, and the mountains hugged the bay (Resurrection Bay).
When we arrived in Seward, I was blown away by the view. It was obviously a fishing town, boats everywhere and the docks were full. But what impressed me most was how the town had managed to nestle into the wilderness. Cabins were perched precariously on mountainsides, "tsunami escape route" signs were posted, and the mountains hugged the bay (Resurrection Bay).
A group of us went to the Alaska Sealife Center and looked around. It's affiliated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Marine department and they work on rescuing and rehabilitating marine mammals, birds, and fish. Their science department also has a primary focus on the arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems. The center had many exhibits, featuring Harbor Seals, Puffins, and Sea Lions. Their aquariums featured different species of Salmon, Crab, and fish.
The Sealife Center displayed some conservation videos about how they're working to repair reefs, how whales are rescued, and how to better take care of the ocean. By the touch pools there was an octopus that was made out of trash taken out of the ocean. It really raised awareness for how much trash is introduced to the marine ecosystems and how it can negatively affect them.
I really enjoyed the Child's Learning Center because there were various games to show how you can eat and live more ecofriendly, from shopping locally to gardening. There was also a video game of sorts, where you could play against a friend while "fishing". You would move your ship to different parts of the "board" and get as many fish as you could without over fishing the area.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to go to Seward and how different regions of Alaska live. Seward is a big tourist town and is home to Dallas Seavy and his father, who both are dog sledders for the Iditarod. It is also the starting point of the Iditarod. I'll definitely back in the summer to explore the hiking trails, see Exit Glacier, and horseback ride along the coast.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to go to Seward and how different regions of Alaska live. Seward is a big tourist town and is home to Dallas Seavy and his father, who both are dog sledders for the Iditarod. It is also the starting point of the Iditarod. I'll definitely back in the summer to explore the hiking trails, see Exit Glacier, and horseback ride along the coast.