Shortly before midnight on the 15th we came abreast of the northern
edge of a great glacier or overflow from the inland ice, projecting
beyond the barrier into the sea. It was 400 or 500 ft. high, and at
its edge was a large mass of thick bay-ice. The bay formed by the
northern edge of this glacier would have made an excellent landing-
place. A flat ice-foot nearly three feet above sea-level looked like a
natural quay. From this ice-foot a snow-slope rose to the top of the
barrier. The bay was protected from the south-easterly wind and was
open only to the northerly wind, which is rare in those latitudes. A
sounding gave 80 fathoms, indicating that the glacier was aground. I
named the place Glacier Bay, and had reason later to remember it with
regret.
The 'Endurance' steamed along the front of this ice-flow for about
seventeen miles. The glacier showed huge crevasses and high pressure
ridges, and appeared to run back to ice-covered slopes or hills 1000 or
2000 ft. high. Some bays in its front were filled with smooth ice,
dotted with seals and penguins. At 4 a.m. on the 16th we reached the
edge of another huge glacial overflow from the ice-sheet. The ice
appeared to be coming over low hills and was heavily broken. The cliff-
face was 250 to 350 ft. high, and the ice surface two miles inland was
probably 2000 ft.
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