Alaska Cruise - from Vancouver - 135299

With a population of almost 500,000 Vancouver in British Columbia is the most important port at the Pacific. It is considered to be one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world and, on account of its sheltered location, it has a mild climate all year round. A special attraction at the northern edge of the city is Vancouver's Hausberg Grouse Mountain, which can be reached by a cable-car and has excellent facilities for winter sports and hillwalking as well as a wonderful view of the city. Capilano Suspension Bridge, measuring 137 m in length and suspended 70 m above a river gorge, which visitors can cross, is also nearby. Sights include: Gastown, Stanley Park, Chinatown, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, Harbour Centre with its viewing platform, the waterfront with a sea bus.

This area measures around 890,000 ha of wilderness and is around 35 km (as the crow flies) from Ketchikan. The wilderness of Alaska is part of the natural heritage of the United States of America. The fjords, with steep cliffs stretching around 900 m high, many turquoise-blue mountain lakes, countless rivers and formidable waterfalls are similar to those found in Scandinavia. The area also boasts a vast variety of wildlife - mountain goats, black and brown bears, river otters, porpoises, whales and sea-lions and many species of birds which can all be found in the thick forests and clear waters off the coast.

In the northern part of Prince William Sound in Alaska, nature lovers can admire the unique College Fjord. The name "College Fjord" describes a multitude of glaciers discovered in 1899 during an expedition and named after major colleges. For example, Harvard or Yale Glaciers are just one of over 10 major glaciers in the fjord. Some smaller glaciers can also be found in the area. You can view 8 glaciers from a single vantage point. In addition to seals and otters, even whales can be admired at certain times of the year.