Alexander Archipelago

The Alexander Archipelago is a vast group of islands in North America. It is located off the southeastern coast of Alaska. This archipelago contains approximately 1,100 individual islands. Geologically, these islands are the visible tops of submerged coastal mountains. These mountains rise steeply from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Deep channels and fjords separate the islands from one another. These waterways also cut the islands off from the Alaskan mainland. The islands act as a shelter for the northern part of the Inside Passage. This is a winding maritime route that travels among the islands.

The physical landscape of the archipelago is very rugged. Most of the islands feature steep and irregular coasts. The terrain is covered by dense evergreen and temperate rain forests. Because the land is so difficult to traverse, travel is limited. Most locations are accessible only by boat or by airplane. A vast majority of these islands are part of the Tongass National Forest. The islands are home to an abundance of wildlife. The geography creates a wild and isolated environment.

Many islands vary significantly in size. Prince of Wales Island is the largest island in the archipelago. Other major islands include Chichagof Island and Admiralty Island. Baranof Island and Revillagigedo Island are also among the largest. Other significant islands include Kupreanof, Kuiu, Etolin, Dall, and Wrangell. Smaller but notable islands include Mitkof, Zarembo, Kosciusko, Kruzof, Annette, Gravina, and Yakobi. These islands form a complex network of land and sea.

Human history in the region is very old. The Tlingit and Kaigani Haida people are native to this area. The Tsimshian people also live in the region. They are found on Annette Island. However, the Tsimshian are not originally from this area. They immigrated from British Columbia during the late 19th century. Today, the main industries of the islands are fishing, logging, and tourism. Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island and Sitka on Baranof Island are the largest towns. Juneau is the largest city in the region. Its most populous neighborhoods are on the mainland. However, parts of Juneau also sit on Douglas Island.

European exploration began in the 18th century. The Russian navigator Aleksei Chirikov was the first European to visit. He arrived in 1741 and sighted several islands. These included Noyes, Baker, Baranof, Chichagof, Kruzof, and Yakobi Islands. In 1774, Juan José Pérez Hernández sighted the south coast of Dall Island. Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra entered Bucareli Bay in 1775. In 1792, Jacinto Caamaño sighted Revillagigedo Island and the Gravina Islands. He also discovered the Clarence Strait.

Extensive surveying occurred in the late 1700s. George Vancouver and his crew conducted a survey in 1793 and 1794. They circumnavigated both Revillagigedo and Admiralty Islands. They also charted Kuiu Island and the east sides of Baranof and Chichagof Islands. Their work included Etolin, Wrangell, Zarembo, Mitkof, and Kupreanof Islands. Within ten years, Russians had traversed the Peril Strait. This strait separates Chichagof and Baranof Islands. During the early 19th century, the islands were a center for the Maritime Fur Trade.

The political status of the archipelago changed in 1867. Control passed from Russia to the United States through the Alaska Purchase. The name of the archipelago was established by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1867. It was named in honor of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. Before this, the islands had a different name. An 1860 map of Russian America called them the King George III Archipelago. This change marks a major shift in the history of the region.