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Prince William Sound
South of Anchorage and east of the Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound is one of the world's largest intact ecosystems. The 3000 miles of shoreline in Prince William Sound is full of rocky shores, islands, tributary fjords, passageways, and tidewater glaciers which send chunks of ice crashing into the sea.
Receding glaciers have left many freshwater streams and estuaries to support land animals, and the nutrient-rich saltwater in the sound harbors a large variety of marine life. On land, common species include brown bears, black bears, mountain goats, river otters, porcupine, Sitka black-tailed deer, and wolverine. The sea supports a wide variety of creatures including humpback, minke, and killer whales, sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, Dall porpoise, salmon and halibut.
Three towns comprise the population of Prince William Sound; these are Whittier, Valdez, and Cordova. The combined population is less than 10,000 people, and this small population helps to leave the environment and wildlife intact. Because of the variable and inconsistent terrain, there are no roads connecting the towns, so each one displays a unique personality and culture.
Spend five days in this ecosystem exploring by zodiac, kayak, and on foot on our Alaska Explorer.
