Fjords of the Americas

Fjords are some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. They are deep glacier-carved waterways surrounded by towering mountains, waterfalls, forests, and ice. But while most people picture places like Norway or Alaska when they hear the word “fjord,” some of the largest and wildest fjord systems in the world are actually found thousands of miles away in Patagonia.

On this episode, we compare the fjords of North and South America and explore how two regions in opposite hemispheres were shaped by many of the same forces. We talk glaciers, icefields, rainforests, wildlife, Indigenous maritime cultures, and why fjords tend to form in very specific parts of the world. Along the way, we get into the surprising similarities between coastal Alaska and Patagonia, the differences between temperate and subarctic fjord ecosystems, and why glaciers depend just as much on moisture as they do on cold temperatures.

Why do some of the world’s biggest glaciers exist far from the poles? Why are Patagonia’s fjords so remote compared to Alaska’s? And what exactly is a group of bunnies called?! It’s the episode that'll decide your next winter vacation!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Devil in the Row by Brewerks

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

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