Thursday 17 December 2015

Copper River Red Salmon and spotting eagles on our way to Chitina

We are driving from Fairbanks to Chitina, a very long journey with nice sceneries. Occasionally we stop to have a break, enjoy the views, eat an apple and watch wildlife. Above us we see several brown eagles circling. The hunt for food has started and it will not take long before one captures a prey.

Water flows down to sea level and the salmon swims upstream to spawn. At a smaller creek, the clear water was colored red from large groups of Red Salmon swimming against the current. They almost stood still. Returning to their birth place, salmon swims hundreds of miles to die after spawning. The cruelty of nature knows no limits.

We rijden van Fairbanks naar Chitina, een lange rit met mooie landschappen. Af en toe stoppen we voor pauze te houden, te genieten van het zicht, een appel te eten en dieren in het wild te spotten. Boven ons zien we enkele bruine arenden cirkelen. De jacht op voedsel is begonnen en het zal niet lang duren vooraleer dit roofdier zich op een prooi stort. 

Het water vloeit terug naar zeeniveau en de zalm zwemt stroomopwaarts om te paren. In een kleinere kreek kleurde het heldere water rood van Rode Zalm, die tegen de stroming in zwommen. Ze zwommen bijna ter plaatse. Instinctief terugkerende naar hun geboorteplaats leggen de zalmen honderden kilometers af om te sterven na het paren. De wreedheid van de natuur kent geen grenzen. 
 
Alaska flower lake

Alaska river

Alaska mountains

Alaska Richardson highway

Alaska sunny river

Alaska snowcapped mountain

Alaska spring

Alaska snow

Alaska jeep

Alaska low water

Alaska glacier

Alaska Copper River

Alaska Red Salmon

Alaska clear water

Alaska lake scenery

Alaska brown eagle

Alaska large eagle

Previous mountain article: Feeling like a Roman at the Rimske Therme in Toplice

Previous river article: Matsu Valley impressions of the endless Alaskan wilderness

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10 comments:

  1. These photos of the Alaskan scenery are spectacular! I love the water lilies. You saw some amazing sights. Happy Holidays to you and Kristel!

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  2. Some lovely images, it must have been a glorious drive

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  3. woooow, prachtige natuur! daar zou ik ook wel eens willen reizen!

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  4. Beautiful rugged scenery. The salmon story is one of wonder. We saw them in Canada doing the same thing.

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  5. Very pretty. Wonderful photos once again.

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  6. Your photos of those wide open spaces make we want to take a road trip. ;-)

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  7. Wau … very beautiful. You have had a great trip.

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