Gulf of Alaska

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

The shoreline of the Gulf is marked by forests, mountains, and many tidewater glaciers. Two of Alaska's largest glaciers, the Malaspina Glacier and Bering Glacier, reach the coast here. The area includes large bodies of water such as Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound, along with Yakutat Bay. Lituya Bay is a fjord known for being the site of the largest recorded tsunami in history.

The Gulf of Alaska is a very productive ecosystem, supporting many forms of sea life. Deep water corals, like Primnoa pacifica, live here at depths between 150 and 900 metres. The area stays ice-free all year because of the warm North Pacific Current, which is fed by the Kuroshio Current. In the 1970s, the Gulf experienced changes in its climate, with warmer sea temperatures and more variety in fish species.

Meteorology

The Gulf of Alaska helps create many storms. These storms bring lots of snow and ice to southern Alaska and can travel down the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and even as far as 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. This line includes all nearby islands in the Gulf of Alaska.

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 can be found along the coast, each with its own unique shape and location. Some of the well-known ones are Baranof Island, Chichagof Island, and Kodiak Island. The list goes on to include places like Prince of Wales Island and Revillagigedo Island.