About the Alexander Archipelago

The Alexander Archipelago is a three-hundred-mile-long archipelago off the southeastern coast of Alaska. It contains about 1,100 islands, which are the tops of submerged coastal mountains that rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean. Deep channels and fjords separate the islands, cutting them off from the mainland.

The northern part of the Inside Passage is sheltered by the islands as it winds its way among them. The islands have irregular, steep coasts, and dense evergreen and temperate rain forests. The three largest islands are Chichagof, Admiralty, and Baranof.

All the islands are rugged and densely forested, and have an abundance of wildlife.

The Tlingit and Kaigani Haida people are native to the area. Sitka on Baranof Island is the largest town on the islands. The largest town of the region, Juneau, is actually on the mainland and not part of the archipelago.

Tourism, fishing, and logging are the main industries of the islands.