Tr ave l A l a s k a .c o m 37
Alaska Peninsula
e Alaska Peninsula reaches 550 miles (885 km) into the Pacific Ocean.
is geologically active area is home to volcanoes and sea-carved coastlines,
ancient Aleut village sites and unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities.
Scheduled air service from Anchorage to Cold Bay provides access to an array
of national wildlife refuges and nearby communities, including the Aniakchak
National Monument and Preserve and the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge,
an important migratory habitat for birds, ducks and geese. Brown bear and
other wildlife viewing opportunities are plentiful on the peninsula.
Aleutian Islands
Past the tip of the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands begin their more than
1,000-mile (1,609-km) sweep toward Asia. ese incredible windswept islands,
now part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, were the theater for
the 19-day Battle of Attu between Japanese and American troops in May 1943.
Visitors can reach Unalaska via air service from Anchorage or Cold Bay
or by taking a summer ferry from Kodiak. Unalaska was an early trading
post of the Russian American Company and center of the sea otter trade in
the 1700s. e local fishing fleet holds the distinction of leading the nation
in quantity of landed catch. Visitors enjoy exploring the Aleutian WWII
Visitor Center and a network of bunkers and pillboxes. Local Unangan
(Aleut) culture and history can be found at the Museum of the Aleutians.
Pribilof Islands
Fly from Anchorage to see the world-famous wildlife colonies on
St. George and St. Paul Islands in the Bering Sea. More than 240 bird
species, including colorful puffins, have been seen on rock cliffs and grassy
tundra. A nesting population of 2.5 million birds makes St. George home to
some of the largest seabird colonies in the Northern Hemisphere. St. Paul's
beaches also play host to an amazing number of fur seals.
ose furs were what first drew Russian explorers to the islands in 1786,
using Aleut labor to harvest the animals. Today the islands provide
support for the Bering Sea fishing fleet. Known as the "Galapagos of the
North," they have also become a major destination for birdwatchers from
around the world. e island's Russian churches can be found on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
e waters of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers flow through a vast, treeless
plain encompassed by the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. ese
expansive river drainages offer habitat for a wide array of birds and wildlife.
Bethel, a port community on the Kuskokwim River, is the commercial
hub of the area. A Yupik trading center in the 1870s, Bethel remains
a marketplace for ivory carvings, baskets and other Native cra items.
e Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center features Native exhibits and
demonstrations of dancing and carving. e Yukon Delta National
Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and Museum Annex offers exhibits of
traditional Native tools and clothing, a collection of vintage photos,
Native art classes and a gi shop. With daily scheduled air service from
Anchorage, Bethel is easily accessible.
Monthly Temperature and Daylight Information
Kodiak
