Unalaska and Dutch Harbor

Unalaska is situated on two separate islands in the Aleutian Chain -- Unalaska Island and Amaknak Island.  Dutch Harbor, on Amaknak, is a major commercial fishing port and probably more well- known for the Discovery Channel's reality show The Deadliest Catch.  The islands are located where the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea meet, and The Bridge to the Other Side joins them.  

To see a beautiful picture of Unalaska in the snow (and obtain more information about this remote location) check out the city's link http://unalaska-ak.us/.  The ferry runs once a month between mid-April and the first week in October from Homer to Dutch Harbor. Transportation otherwise is by plane with a one way ticket to Anchorage costing upwards of $690.00.  You definitely wouldn't want to get stuck out there.

Seven hours is not really long enough to explore this extraordinary place but with a good guide you can hit many of the highlights.  The drive along the Unalaskan coast was rich with both sea and bird life.  We saw sea otters, seals, and cormorants in relatively large numbers.

A view of the airstrip

A characteristic scene in Unalaska with the ubiquitous crab pots in the foreground.

Snow-covered peaks as seen from the Unalaska side

The Sitka Spruce Park

The Russians planted Sitka Spruce in 1805 along Biorka Drive.  These tall gnarly trees are said to be originals.  It is supposedly the oldest recorded afforestation project in North America.

Concrete pillbox ...

According to The Lonely Planet Guide, Unalaska and Dutch Harbor can be characterized by two things as you leave the ferry terminal:  Concrete pillboxes from World War II, and ...

Crab pots

You do see a lot of both, but the king crab fishing industry has declined considerably over the past 20 years or so.  More than 80% of seafood currently processed here is pollack.  For those of you who don't know, pollack is turned into fish sticks and imitation crab in the fish processing plants on the island.  

Here, for fans, is one of the boats that compete in The Deadliest Catch TV series.  The Cornelia Marie was the favorite of the teachers we were with at Cold Bay (you know, the ones with us on the bus when we were nearly left by the ferry).  They were all really into the TV show.  (There is not, I might add, a lot to do in these places.)

Close-up of the Cornelia Marie

Mt. Ballyhoo

Mt. Ballyhoo is home to the highest coastal battery ever constructed in the US -- nearly 1,000 ft above the Bering Sea.  There are a lot of concrete observation posts, command stations, tunnels and other structures built to withstand earthquakes and 100 mph winds.

I was really more interested in the spectacular views from the top of this mountain, however.  Believe it or not, we saw humpback whales spouting (with binoculars, of course) -- but these were my first whales.  The setting was magnificent!

 

The view of the harbor on the way down from Mt. Ballyhoo.

Church of the Holy Ascension

This is the oldest Russian-built church still standing in Alaska.  It was built in 1825 and enlarged in 1894.  We were fortunate in being able to visit the church but photos were not allowed inside.  It was rich with beautiful icons and artwork.

Close-up view of the church

The small graveyard adjacent to the church.

The drive up the coast of Unalaska.

... heading back toward Akutan

I loved this place -- it is somewhere I could consider living for awhile (maybe working in a fish processing plant).  We were very fortunate to have such good weather in October -- apparently it is rather rare.  I would like to send a warm welcome to Unalaska Newbie who has listed herself as a follower.  I hope I have done Unalaska and Dutch Harbor justice even though we were only there seven hours.  Any feedback would be appreciated. 

The next post will be the way back ...