U.S. President Barrack Obama arrived at Seward’s Exit Glacier at 12:01 pm this afternoon.
He took a walking tour where he noted the past locations of the glacier’s edge.
President Obama: “You guys have been seeing these signs as we walk that mark where the glacier used to be. 1917, 1951… this glacier has lost about a mile and a half.”
Once within view of the glacier he took a long look before walking on and saying, “We want to make sure that our grandkids can see this.”
The president also likened the glacier’s retreat for his call for everyone to work together on climate change.
President Obama: “The pace of the reductions of the glacier are accelerating rapidly each and every year. This is as good of a signpost of what we’re dealing with when it comes to climate change as just about anything.”
Before the president’s tour, Physical Science Program Manager at the National Park Deborah Kurtz stated that last year alone, the glacier retreated 187 feet.
Since she began at the park in 2008, it’s retreated over 800 feet and since 1815, it’s retreated about 1.25 miles.