Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

maritimejpg Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of more than 2,500 islands, islets, spires, rocks and headlands.The refuge protects habitat for 40 million nesting seabirds, as well as marine mammals and other wildlife.

Quick Links: Refuge Links -- Tips for the Visitor -- Natural Highlights -- Historical Highlights -- Other Resources

Steller Sea lions on Aiugunak Pinnacle_Bailey

The 4.5 million-acre refuge extends from the Arctic Ocean to Southeastern Alaska, with most lands in the Aleutian Islands.

Tips for the Visitor

The Alaska Maritime NWR spans a greater distance than any other refuge in America, yet accessing most of it is extemely difficult. The refuge lists seven "hot spots" that provide the easiest access, including several areas near Homer.

One of the easiest way to discover the refuge is at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, which features extensive exhibits, programs, and interpretive talks.

Natural Highlights

Of the 50 million seabirds that nest annually in Alaska, 40 million of them do so on refuge lands, more than anywhere else on the continent.

Thousands of sea mammals thrive in the refuge, including the northern fur seal, endangered Steller sea lion, harbor seals, walrus, and sea otters.

The refuge includes St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea, which is considered to be the most remote place in all of Alaska.

Historical Highlights

President Theodore Roosevelt set aside the first portions of the refuge in 1909, including St. Lazaria Island in the Southeast and several islands in the Bering Sea.

In 1980, The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) combined 11 existing refuges (about 3 million acres) with an additional 1.9 million acres to form the nearly 5-million-acre Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

Fish & Wildlife Service Links

General Information

Caribou Herd and Isanotski Peak--Photo: John Sarvis