IMAGES: GETTY; OSCAR FARRERA
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PAID CONTENT FOR HX HURTIGRUTEN EXPEDITIONS
S
itting at the far northwestern point of North America, the largest state in the US takes its name from the language of the Unangan people
— Alyeska meaning ‘great land’. This vast wilderness offers visitors the chance to explore unspoilt landscapes, elusive wildlife, abandoned islands and historic Indigenous sites. Discover its most remote corners on an expedition cruise along the breathtaking 930-mile Inside Passage coastal route and beyond.
SCOUT FOR BEARS & WILDLIFE Brown bears are undoubtedly the superstars of Alaska’s animal kingdom, topping many visitors’ viewing lists. These awe-inspiring creatures stand up to seven feet tall, weigh around 700lb and lose up to a third of their bodyweight during winter hibernation. With more than 2,000 brown bears — the largest concentration in the world — Katmai National Park is the prime place to see them. Against a backdrop of soaring mountains, active volcanoes and dramatic coastal scenery, visitors here can spot bears searching for clams along the rocky shores or hunting in salmon streams. Be sure to keep an eye out for caribou, red fox, lynx, snowshoe hare, red squirrel and beaver, too.
EXPLORE ISOLATED ISLANDS Ever heard a singing vole? You may have the chance on St Matthew Island. Sat in the Bering Sea, halfway to Siberia, this is one of the most far-flung places in Alaska. The remains of a few buildings, sandwiched between black sand beaches and unforgiving tundra, are a legacy of the few people who have tried and failed to live here. Now, the island is occupied only by puffins, cormorants and the distinctively vocal vole.
Over 200 miles to the south, St Paul
Island is home to America’s largest Unangan community, whose ancestors built semi- subterranean homes to shelter from sea winds. They share their remote home — and the rest of the Pribilof Islands — with half the world’s population of northern fur seals, plus 300 species of migrating birds, including rare red-legged kittiwakes.
VISIT A GHOST VILLAGE A small boat is the only way to reach the deserted village of Unga and its namesake isle, one of the 20 Shumagin Islands in the Aleutian Chain. Settled by the Unangax in 1833 and originally called Ougnagok, it was abandoned in 1969 when the islanders could no longer make a living from fishing. There’s an eerie yet peaceful silence as you step ashore to discover how nature has reclaimed a hamlet that was once home to 100 people. Derelict wooden houses, a cemetery and a crumbling church sit surrounded by wildflower meadows of pink lousewort and fireweed. You may also spot seals and sea lions basking on the deserted shoreline.
DELVE INTO ALASKAN CULTURE Situated in the heart of the Inside Passage, at the mouth of the Stikine River, Wrangell is one of Alaska’s oldest harbour towns. It’s the only Alaskan town to have flown three flags and been ruled by four nations; Łingít, Russia, Britain and the US. Expert guides will point out totems depicting the story of the Indigenous Łingít people — including the orca totem marking Chief Shakes’ grave. Just outside the town is Petroglyph Beach,
where incredibly clear rock carvings of birds, fish and mysterious shapes date back 8,000 years. More recently, a 19th-century gold strike on the Stikine prompted a gold
THIS IS PAID CONTENT. IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) OR THEIR EDITORIAL STAFFS.
rush that turned Wrangell into a lawless territory as thousands of prospectors arrived to seek their fortune. Learn all about this legacy and more, at the Wrangell Museum.
BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST Citizen science projects allow travellers to contribute to global research initiatives. Here, images of the humpback, orca, fin and gray whales that inhabit the coastal waters can be submitted to the Happywhale website, which maps their movements globally. And those lucky enough to glimpse the majestic bald eagle or the willow ptarmigan, Alaska’s state bird, can join the world’s largest birding community by sending their pictures to eBird. Travellers on HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’ ship MS Roald Amundsen can also enjoy their own science centre, providing insight into everything from cloud formations to phytoplankton.
From left: Tracy Arm fjord and glacier; brown bears in Katmai National Park; MS Roald Amundsen
PLAN YOUR TRIP
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions offer three Alaska itineraries. Fly from the UK to Vancouver and set sail on the 530-passenger MS Roald Amundsen, a pioneering hybrid power expedition ship. For more information, visit
travelhx.com/uk
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