Approaching Juneau, Alaska, from the south along the Gastineau Channel at daybreak is magical. The rising sun paints the clouds and surrounding mountains with a warm glow. Interestingly, while this channel can now accommodate large cruise ships, the area’s main attraction is threatening the waterway’s navigability. As the nearby Mendenhall Glacier retreats, it is filling the channel with sediment. At the same time, the land beneath the water is rising in a process called isostatic or post-glacial rebound.
