Closed crevasses in Aktineq Glacier

Location: Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada

A typical closure of crevasses down ice from an area of open crevasses. Black debris in the crevasses consists of algal remnants, dust, and various organic remains of animals, etc., all of which fell into the open original crevasses. The horizontal shelf was created by meltwater flow. Near this site the disarticulated remains of a hare or rabbit were found melted out of the glacier's surface over a horizontal distance of more than 5 meters. The animal had apparently fallen into an open crevasse.

Updated 03/29/2010 AW