Gulf of Alaska

The Gulf of Alaska (Tlingit: Yéil T'ooch’) is part of the Pacific Ocean. It stretches along the southern coast of Alaska. It starts at Kabuch Point on the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west and ends at Cape Spencer in the east. This is where Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage begin.

The shoreline has forests, mountains, and many tidewater glaciers. Two big glaciers, the Malaspina Glacier and Bering Glacier, reach the coast here. The area includes large bodies of water like Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound, along with Yakutat Bay. Lituya Bay is a fjord.

The Gulf of Alaska is a rich home for sea life. Deep water corals, like Primnoa pacifica, live here. The area stays ice-free all year because of the warm North Pacific Current. This current is fed by the Kuroshio Current. In the 1970s, the Gulf had changes in its climate, with warmer sea temperatures and more kinds of fish.

Meteorology

The Gulf of Alaska helps create many storms. These storms bring snow and ice to southern Alaska. They can also travel down the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and even to Southern California, especially during El Niño events. A lot of the rain and snow in the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern United States comes from the Gulf of Alaska.

Extent

The International Hydrographic Organization says the Gulf of Alaska is bounded on the north by the coast of Alaska and on the south by a line from Cape Spencer to Kabuch Point.

The US Geological Survey’s database also describes the Gulf of Alaska with the same northern boundary along Alaska’s coast and a southern boundary running from the south end of Kodiak Island to the Dixon Entrance.

Islands

The Gulf of Alaska has many islands. Some of these islands have special names, like Admiralty Island, Spain Island, and Aiaktalik Island. Others include Akun Island, Akutan Island, and Amaknak Island. There are also Annette Island, Augustine Island, and Avatanak Island.

Many more islands are along the coast, each with its own shape and place. Some well-known ones are Baranof Island, Chichagof Island, and Kodiak Island. The list also includes places like Prince of Wales Island and Revillagigedo Island.