Haines Junction, Canada - The view from the seaplane is impressive. Icefields extend into the distance along with furrowed plains and snow-capped mountains. The few clouds in the dark blue sky are no match for the sun's rays that cause the ice in Kluane National Park in Canada's Yukon to glisten.
The sun also makes sure that Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan, situated on the horizon, is set in the right light.
Mount Logan is 5,959 metres high and is the second highest mountain in North America after Mount McKinley in Alaska. Europe's Alps seem almost like a mid-size mountain range by comparison.
But looked at from a small airplane, Mount Logan is not as imposing as some peaks in the Alps.
"It's located in the middle of the vast glacier field of St. Elias Mountains on the border to Alaska," says Denny, the pilot.
And because the glaciers are not level structures, Mount Logan does not protrude very far.
The mountain was first reached by explorers in 1890 and was named a year later after the geologist Sir William Edmond Logan. It took another 35 years before two Canadian mountaineers would reach its summit.
"In the meantime, there are a dozen routes to the top," says Denny.
But Mount Logan is still considered one of the most difficult peaks to climb in North America.
Though Mount Logan only became known to the outside world around the turn of the twentieth century, the local indigenous population was well acquainted with the area.
The first tribes to live there arrived about 5,000 years ago.
The almost 6,000 metre Mount Logan is not the only natural beauty in the park, which contains a few more superlatives.
"We have the world's largest non-polar icefield," says Denny.
Together with Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini Alsek Park, Kluane is the largest single element on the UNESCO's World Heritage list.
The area is 22,000 square kilometres in size and was awarded World Heritage status in 1980. Ice and snow are the defining characteristics the park has to offer.
But visitors only become truly aware of the park's enormous size when their small airplane flies along the edge of the glacier field.
Massive blocks of ice repeatedly fall into the sea accompanied by the crashing sound of thunder.
From the water, the glacier field looks like a huge wall of ice mountains.
"The ice is about 1,000 feet - roughly 300 metres - thick here," says the pilot, Denny.
From the plane you also notice the numerous lakes dotted around the landscape that radiate an impossible turquoise colour between the massive white icefields.
It's unlikely you will reach this spot on foot but there are alternative ways to see this impressive natural wonder such as by raft, airplane, bicycle, horse, canoe or dog slay.
The jumping-off point for most tours is the small town of Haines Junction.
Internet: www.travelyukon.com, www.canada.travel, www.pc.gc.ca/pn- np/yt/kluane/index_e.asp
