
Kodiak Island is located on the south coast of Alaska,
and is separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. With a size of 3,465 square miles, it is the largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, and the second largest island in the United States (the Big Island in Hawaii being the largest). The Russians established a settlement here in 1784, lured by the region’s plentiful fish and sea mammals (particularly the valuable sea otter pelts). When the U.S. purchased Kodiak from Russia in 1867, its economy shifted abruptly from the fur trade and whaling to salmon fishing. It is home to some 700 fishing vessels and the country’s largest Coast Guard station.
Population of the Kodiak Archipelago is about 12,000, but land for housing is scarce with 85% of it naturally preserved by the government. The terrain is very mountainous and there are many deep ice-free bays that provide sheltered anchorages for boats.

We spent the day at exploring the beauty of the island at Fort Abercrombie State Park.

We hiked for hours through its wooded trails taking in breathtaking views of the coastline. There were many different types of seabirds, and we were also lucky enough to see whales, seals, otters and an eagle.

The eagle was the only one that cooperated for a decent photo, however.
Next stop is Homer, Alaska.
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