Russell Fiord , also spelled Russell Fjord , is a fjord in the U.S. state of Alaska . It extends north to Disenchantment Bay , the terminus of Hubbard Glacier , at the head of Yakutat Bay . The fjord was named in 1901 by Marcus Baker of the U.S. Geological Survey for explorer Israel Russell , who discovered the estuary in 1891 while exploring the Yakutat region.
4-480: The opening into Disenchantment Bay has been periodically blocked by Hubbard Glacier, turning Russell Fiord into a lake collecting freshwater run-off from the glacier. The entrance closed from May to October 1986, and again briefly in 2002. The Russell Fiord Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Tongass National Forest , protecting 348,701 acres (1,411 km) surrounding the fjord. The wilderness
8-521: A location in the City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Disenchantment Bay Disenchantment Bay extends southwest for 16 km (9.9 mi) from the mouth of Russell Fiord to Point Latouche , at the head of Yakutat Bay in Alaska . Named "Puerto del Desengano", Spanish for "bay of disenchantment", by Alessandro Malaspina in 1792, upon finding that
12-510: The bay was not the entrance to the legendary Northwest Passage . He sailed up the bay as far as Haenke Island , before discovering the passage blocked by ice. During the earthquake of September 10, 1899, parts of Disenchantment Bay were raised 47 feet 4 inches (14.43 metres). This is the greatest recorded vertical displacement by an earthquake. 59°57′43″N 139°34′12″W / 59.96194°N 139.57000°W / 59.96194; -139.57000 This article about
16-585: Was established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980 and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service . The Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness borders it to the northwest. 59°48′04″N 139°19′27″W / 59.80111°N 139.32417°W / 59.80111; -139.32417 This article related to a protected area in Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about
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