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Description:
The Alaska Penisula Refuge spans 340 miles of the Alaska Peninsula in the southwestern part of the state and encompasses about 4.3 million acres. Landforms of the refuge include rugged mountain crests, rounded sub-summits, U-shaped valleyes with sheer walls, sea cliffs, and fjords, low tundra wetland, glacial lakes and moraines. The dominant feature is the rugged Aleutian Range which is part of the chain of volcanoes known as the "Ring of Fire" that rims the Pacific Ocean. Eight major volcanoes, including five that are active, are inside the Refuge. Brown bears, moose, caribou and wolves inhabit refuge lands and marine mammals are abundant in nearshore waters. The large coastal brown bears are attracted to the productive salmon streams during salmon spawning runs in the summer. Many thousands of ducks, geese, swans and other migratory birds are present in the summer. Refuge rivers, streams and lakes support large runs of all five species of Pacific salmon, contributing to the enormous commercial salmon fishery in Bristol Bay. Arctic char and grayling are also common. There are no roads in the refuge. Visitors reach refuge lands primarily by plane and boat. Directions:
The refuge office is located approximately 1/8 mile across from the King Salmon Airport. Signs leading to the office complex are readily visible and assistance can be obtained from the refuge visitor center which is adjacent to the airport terminal. Regularly scheduled commercial flights are available between King Salmon and Anchorage.
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