Southeast Alaska

I lived in Sitka, Alaska for a year after graduating from college, and the scenery there was something straight out of a nature documentary. I was continually stunned by the mountain views and the bald eagles always flying overhead. These are some of my favorite moments from my year in Southeast Alaska that capture its natural beauty and wonder.

Though not unique to the region, fireweed grows throughout coastal Alaska and is a defining feature of the landscapes in summertime.

Much of Southeast Alaska is covered by the Tongass National Forest. Not only is the Tongass the largest National Forest in the United States, but it is also the largest temperate rainforest on the planet.

Though the sheer amount of rain may be an adjustment for first time visitors, it is a crucial component of the ecosystem. From wetlands to snow and ice to evergreen forests, the Tongass is large, varied, and undeniably beautiful.

With a year round population of about 90, Pelican, Alaska on Chichagof Island can only be accessed by sea plane or boat. Featuring incredible scenery on the Lisianski Inlet, this fishing village is often considered the "closest to the fish." Fishing is an integral aspect of life in Southeast Alaska, both culturally and economically. Pelican is a great example of this, with its main industries of commercial fishing and seafood processing.

Alaska is the largest producer of wild salmon in the world. There are five kinds: Chum, Pink, Coho, Sockeye, and King. King salmon, or Chinook, is the largest and most valuable of the bunch. While commercial fishing in Alaska is relatively new in the span of human history, Alaska Native tribes have been using salmon as a primary food source since time immemorial.

Salmon is an excellent food source for a variety of wildlife: bears, seals, sea lions, sharks, and eagles to name a few.

Even after death, salmon still serve a purpose. Whether it was a predator or the natural life cycle, salmon carcasses litter the area as autumn comes. As they decompose, they distribute nutrients back into the forests. Additionally, salmon bones and dried salmon skin (salmon leather) are materials commonly used by Alaska Natives historically and today.

Whales are another well known resident of Alaskan waters. Pictured here are humpback whales. Humpbacks can be found throughout Southeast Alaska in the summer during their feeding season before traveling south for winter and breeding.

This group of about 20 humpbacks is bubble-net feeding in the Frederick Sound. Bubble-net feeding is a learned behavior, not instinctual, where the whales encircle a school of fish from below and blow bubbles to trap them in a particular radius before performing a coordinated lunge to the surface to catch and eat their fill.