Icy Bay (Alaska)

Icy Bay
Lig̲aasi Áa (Tlingit)
Glaciers at Icy Bay
Icy Bay is located in Alaska
Icy Bay
Icy Bay
Location in Alaska
LocationYakutat, Alaska
Coordinates59°59′24″N 141°23′25″W / 59.99000°N 141.39028°W / 59.99000; -141.39028
TypeFjord
Ocean/sea sourcesPacific Ocean

Icy Bay (Tlingit: Lig̲aasi Áa) is a body of water in the borough of Yakutat, Alaska, formed in the last 100 years[timeframe?] by the rapid retreat of the Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall Glaciers. It is part of the Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the bay entrance was permanently blocked by a giant tidewater glacier face that calved icebergs directly into the Gulf of Alaska. A century-long[timeframe?] glacial retreat has opened a multi-armed bay more than 30 miles (48 km) long.

Icy Bay is a popular destination for sea kayakers, and is reachable by bush plane from Yakutat, Alaska.