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

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

Refuge home page Refuge overview Alaska Islands & Oceans Visitor Center (refuge headquarters) Contact the refuge Map of the refuge Refuge features Refuge units
Trip Planning Visiting the refuge Visitor services
Wildlife Wildlife overview Wildlife viewing hotspots Bird lists Refuge bird bios
Research Research Ship M/V Tiglax Biological projects Archaeological research
Fun Links St. Matthew Island--Alaska's most remote place Hot Times on the Ring of Fire: Biologists Flee Volcano
Other Resources
Browse Alaska Maritime books, maps, guides, and logo products Refuge images from AMNWR's unofficial website
Back to List of Wildlife Refuges

Photos, from top to bottom: Bailey, John Sarvis, F. Deines, Art Sowls
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