Frederick Sound
Once again, we’ve experienced Southeast Alaska at its very best with absolutely perfect weather and the sun shining brightly. Today we enjoyed placid lakes, cool streams, ancient forests, rustic trails, calm waters as well as a wind–blown passage across Chatham Strait. The hikes were challenging and the kayaking proved to be so relaxing that some of us fell into a surrealistic trance as we paddled through Hanus Bay.
A casual lunch was served out on the sundeck and later, while cruising Hood Bay, we noticed that the waters had turned red. The natural history staff dropped a plankton net into the water to gather samples of whatever might be causing the crimson hue. During the nightly Recap, the video microscope was pressed into service so that everyone could see the cause of this phenomenon. What we saw projected on the screen was an incredibly thick soup of microorganisms—crustaceans, jellies and countless other tiny sea creatures. Numerous planktonic organisms with a red pigment were found to be the chief culprit in “The Mysterious Case of the Deep Red Bay.” We discussed how these rich near-shore Alaskan waters form the base of a complex food web that supports successively larger species. It is even why we find baleen whales in such abundance in this region. The fact that the largest of creatures eat the smallest is a testament to the abundance of plankton in the oceans as well as their nutritive value. It was further explained how we humans share in the benefits of protecting this valuable resource.
Later that evening, we enjoyed watching Humpback whales feasting upon this rich “soup of the sea” as we sailed towards our next destination and another adventure.
Once again, we’ve experienced Southeast Alaska at its very best with absolutely perfect weather and the sun shining brightly. Today we enjoyed placid lakes, cool streams, ancient forests, rustic trails, calm waters as well as a wind–blown passage across Chatham Strait. The hikes were challenging and the kayaking proved to be so relaxing that some of us fell into a surrealistic trance as we paddled through Hanus Bay.
A casual lunch was served out on the sundeck and later, while cruising Hood Bay, we noticed that the waters had turned red. The natural history staff dropped a plankton net into the water to gather samples of whatever might be causing the crimson hue. During the nightly Recap, the video microscope was pressed into service so that everyone could see the cause of this phenomenon. What we saw projected on the screen was an incredibly thick soup of microorganisms—crustaceans, jellies and countless other tiny sea creatures. Numerous planktonic organisms with a red pigment were found to be the chief culprit in “The Mysterious Case of the Deep Red Bay.” We discussed how these rich near-shore Alaskan waters form the base of a complex food web that supports successively larger species. It is even why we find baleen whales in such abundance in this region. The fact that the largest of creatures eat the smallest is a testament to the abundance of plankton in the oceans as well as their nutritive value. It was further explained how we humans share in the benefits of protecting this valuable resource.
Later that evening, we enjoyed watching Humpback whales feasting upon this rich “soup of the sea” as we sailed towards our next destination and another adventure.
