KETCHIKAN, ALASKA, USA-SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD-APRIL 27, 2013

KETCHIKAN is Alaska's 4th largest city and it is no more than 4 blocks wide but stretches over 32 miles along the Tongass Narrows.  Like other Southeast Alaska towns, KETCHIKAN grew because of substantial gold and other mineral finds in nearby hills.  I incorporated in 1900 when it was just a boomtown of 1,000 miners, fishermen and saloon-keepers.  By the 30's over a dozen salmon canneries produced more than a million pounds a year, giving this city the title of "Salmon capital of the world".  By the mid 70's the fishing industry nearly collapsed.  Salmon have made a remarkable comeback since, and the lumber industry is still a part of the city's economy.
KETCHIKAN also has the dubious reputation as "Rain Capital of Alaska".  Average annual rainfall if 162 inches with measurable precipitation on 240 days of the year.
Our shore excursion was to the MISTY FJORDS NATIONAL MONUMENT and for 5 hours we were on a very comfortable Catamaran seeing the pristine rivers and streams, ice fields, forested mountains, tumbling waterfalls and glacial lakes.  No roads lead into this untamed land; only ships and planes make it accesible.

LEAVING CRYSTAL SYMPHONY.

 MONUMENT

 SCENERY

WATERFALLS

HARBOR FROM OUR VERANDAH

 CRUISING GLACIER BAY

SUNCHAIRS ON POOL DECK AND GLACIER BAY IN BACKGOUND

GLACIER BAY, ALASKA-GEM OF THE INSIDE PASSAGE-APRIL 26, 2013

As we sail 65 miles into this glacial fjord, we are folllowing in the wake of the fastest glacial retreat in recorded history.  There is spectacular scenery and magnificent wildlife and we have 2 park rangers on board that are answering all of our questions and share some of the highlights of the day.
Glaciers form because snowfall in the high mountains exceeds snowmelt. Tidewater glaciers, those that reach the sea, are formed in only 3 places on earth: Chile, Scandinavia and Alaska.

 Our ship docked in Seward-a town of 2,500.

View of Seward Harbor from our verandah.

SEWARD, ALASKA, USA-APRIL 24, 2013

The only way to speak of Alaska is in superlatives.  Everything here is the largest, the best, the first, the coldest or the most beautiful.  Mt. McKinley is the highest mountain in North America and the state is larger than 1/5 of the continental US and its 33,000miles of rugged coastline exceed the length of all the other 49 states' coasts combined.
Despite its vastness, Alaska has only 16,000 miles of roads, most unpaved.  The majority of the "bush" settlements-those inaccesible by roads-depend on planes to connect them with the outside world; thus Alaska has more planes and pilots per capita than any place in the world.  Their traditional isolation has made Alaskans an independent, self-sufficient people.  They are also a friendly, outgoing and gregarious lot.
SEWARD began as fishing village and point of arrival for those visiting Alaska.

This was taken from our verandah and was all that we saw of KODIAK.

KODIAK, ALASKA, USA-APRIL 23,2013

We docked @ KODIAK, ALASKA this morning and instead of seeing the town, Don and I went to see the Doctor on board.  He is on anti-biotics and Coriciden and I am just Coricidin.  He gave me his cold.
In 1867, America purchased Alaska from Imperial Russia.  It had been the capital of Russia from 1733-1867.  When WWII unfolded, fears of an attack from west surfaced following the Japanese invasion of Kiska and Attu. Then, in 1957 oil was discovered on the Kanai Peninsula in Swanson River and the rest was...history.  Statehood came to Alaska on January 3rd, 1959 with Juneau its capital.  ALASKA became the 49th star in America's stars and stripes.
KODIAK ISLAND is found on the western side of the Gulf of Alaska,  The terrain is rugged yet rich with geological drama and wildlife.
Fewer than 7,000 claim their town ranks among the country's top three fishing ports with 700 fishing vessels calling here annually.  KODIAK is filled with crab pots, drying netss, canning factories, fish smokers, and curbside eateries serving everything.  Most of the catch is frozen immediately and shipped out to markets around the world.