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Free Traveling Guides » States » Alaska » Greater AlaskaAlaska Peninsula
The Alaska Peninsula, a peninsula that separates the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay, stretches over 500 miles (800 km) to the southwest from the Alaska mainland and ends in the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian mountain range is a highly active volcanic range that runs along the entire length of the peninsula. Various villages situated in the Alaska Peninsula include the Cold Bay, Perryville, King Cove, Chignik, Chignik Lagoon, Chignik Lake, and Port Moller.
The southern-most side of the Alaska Peninsula is vast and craggy while the northern side is comparatively flat and marshy. Another difference between the two is that the southern Pacific side is cavernous and has less tidal activity whereas the northern Bristol Bay coastal side is shallow and often experiences tidal extremes.
There is no significant vegetation in the Peninsula. However, the Alaska Peninsula, together with the Bristol Bay, is well known for its wildlife. It is home not only to the world’s largest sockeye salmon but also to largest McNeil River and Katmai brown bear populations, moose, wolves, caribou, and waterfowl. The Peninsula includes several Wildlife Refuges and U.S. National Parks like the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, the Katmai National Park and Preserve, the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, and the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge.
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