Refuge Units

Alaska Peninsula

Expanse

The Alaska Peninsula unit of the Alaska Maritime Refuge extends more than 400 miles along the south coast of the Alaska Peninsula from just west of Kodiak Island to the southern tip of the peninsula. . .

. . . hundreds of sea stacks and islands, many with steep or mountainous terrain often surrounded by reefs or rocky shores . . .

. . . including two previously established refuges in the Semidi and Shumagin island groups.

Williwaw Winds

The region has high winds, mild temperatures, and frequent cloud cover. Fog and drizzle are common in summer. Severe storms occur year-round, often with intense williwaw winds - sudden gusts that can reach more than 110 miles per hour as wind rolls down a mountain side. Day and night temperatures are moderated by the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. Average temperatures at Cold Bay range in winter from 28° to 37°F (-13°F record low) and from 40° to 55°F in summer (78°F record high). Annual precipitation varies from 30 to 60 inches.

Neighboring Volcanoes

There are no volcanoes or calderas in the islands within the unit, but active volcanoes form the spine of the adjacent Alaska Peninsula. Eruptions within the last century have sent ash over some of the islands. Earthquakes occur periodically. One of the largest struck in 1938, 8.7 on the Richter scale.

Abundant Seabird Colonies

More than 5 million seabirds nest throughout the Alaska Peninsula region. Populations of burrow-nesting and surface-nesting seabirds probably are mere remnants of former numbers as a result of introduction of foxes for fur farming, starting in the 1800s. Fox- free islands in the Semidi group support almost half a million nesting northern fulmars, the second largest colony in Alaska.

Wilderness Islands

Simeonof and islands in the Semidi group are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Both were established as refuges prior to incorporation into Alaska Maritime Refuge.

Last updated:September 8, 2008