The Jewel of Alaska
Over the years, Afognak Island has picked up a lot of titles - but our favorite by far is its nickname, 'the jewel of Alaska.' We think this title is well deserved. It's a reflection of the natural beauty and diversity of the region: you’ll find dense spruce forests populated by brown bears, Roosevelt elk, and Sitka black-tailed deer; narrow, meandering bays where sea otters, seals, and sea lions play; and the great expanse of the Pacific ocean, with regular visits from Killer Whales, Grey Whales, Humpbacks, Finbacks, and Minkes - just to name a few. Afognak Island is truly a special corner of this great, wild state of Alaska.
Child of the Ocean
In truth, we owe a lot of this marvelous beauty and diversity to the Pacific Ocean. Afognak sits directly in the path of the warm Kuroshio Current - this enormous, ocean-spanning current transports warm water from the tropics up to our island, keeping temperatures relatively high year round and making the area habitable for our favorite land mammals. The warm waters also trigger a lot of precipitation - Afognak is actually a northern rain forest! This rain feeds our lush vegetation and thick spruce forests.
Diverse, Thriving Wildlife
Where Afognak really earns its nickname, though, is its wildlife. The island population runs the gamut: big game, small game, shore and sea birds, sea lions, otters, seals, and salt and freshwater fish all coexist in our thriving ecosystem. For our visitors, this collection of pristine wildlife presents unparalleled opportunities for capturing the beauty of nature through photography. Just imagine: you can capture otters playing and cracking urchins in the morning, Sitka black tailed deer and majestic herds of elk in the afternoon, and pods of whales breaching in the evening - all in a single day! Nowhere in the world will you find such a concentration of diversity, beauty, and vitality. That's what makes Afognak the jewel of Alaska.
Contact Us to Book Your Alaskan Vacation
Are you ready to experience the majesty of Alaska's crown jewel for yourself? We couldn't be more excited for you. Feel free to call us at (360) 799-3250, reach out to us at our contact page, or take a look at our rates. We can't wait to hear from you, and we hope to see you back at this blog for more info on our little slice of paradise!