Alaska Just Got Bigger: New Island Spotted by Satellites
Alaska Just Got Bigger: New Island Spotted by Satellites
US · Published Sep 9, 2025
A new island, Prow Knob, has emerged in Alaska's Alsek Lake due to the retreat of the Alsek Glacier, as revealed by NASA satellite images.
Since 1984, Alsek Lake and other proglacial lakes have significantly expanded due to glacial thinning and increased calving.
The formation of the new island highlights the impact of climate change on Alaska's geography and the need for ongoing monitoring and climate action.
NASA identifies new island in Alaska
Alaska's landscape has undergone a significant transformation with the emergence of a new island, recently identified through NASA satellite imagery. This landmass, formerly connected to the Alsek Glacier, now stands as an independent island within Alsek Lake. The newly formed island, approximately two square miles in size and known as Prow Knob, separated from the glacier this summer as the ice retreated.
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