Good morning! Today we are continuing to cruise from Anchorage down the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbour which is the last “large” community in the island chain. The 300+ island chain are all volcanic, stretching 1,200 miles westward from the Alaska Peninsula toward Russia, separating the Bering Sea from the Pacific Ocean. The Aleutian Islands form the northernmost part of the Pacific Ring of Fire which British Columbia also sits on, and has some active volcanoes, such as Mount Shishaldin at 9,373 feet. There are 6 groupings of islands going from east to west (we are heading east to Unalaska):
- Fox Islands (the main islands are Unimak, Akutan, Unalaska and Umnak)
- Islands of Four Mountains (the main islands are Yunaska and Chuginadak)
- Andreanof Islands (the main islands are Adak, Atka, Amlia, Seguam, Kanaga and Tanaga)
- Rat Islands (the main islands are Kiska and Amchitka)
- Near Islands (the main islands are Attu Island, Agattu Island and the Semichi Islands – Alaid, Nizki and Shemya)
- Commander Islands (the main islands are Bering and Medny)
Here is the best picture of our journey, however it is from Google Maps and follows the Alaskan Ferry Service stops! It shows how someone would get to Dutch with a car basically from Anchorage.
The interesting thing is that after the last island (shown to the left of the red marker) the islands of Russia start! So when on the island of Unalaska one is actually closer to mainland Russia than mainland USA! I remember when I was in Dutch Harbour to work, that the kids from the school (all grades) often flew to Russia to play sports rather than to Anchorage as it was closer. I have no idea if that still happens today – 30 years later!
If you want to read more about where we are going check out the Wikipedia site on the Aleutian Islands HERE
Got to rest up now! Tomorrow is going to be a BIG day for me! I have been waiting to get back to Dutch Harbour for 30 years and I know it is going to take some effort to get around and see what I would like to see!