Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Welcome to Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis of over 2,500 islands rocks, and spires off the Alaskan coast.

Refuge History: Over 9,000 years ago some of Alaska's earliest peoples inhabited this land and hunted it's birds and marine mammals for survival. Some of the tribes that have lived here include the Aleut/Unangan, Yup'ik, Inupiat, Dena'ina Athabascan, Alutiiq, Haida and Tlingit tribes.

In the late 18th century the first Russian Fur traders arrived in the region. They slaughtered many otters and seals and introduced the invasive species of foxes and rats. In 1867 the United States purchased Alaska and American Fur traders began moving into the region.

The first lands of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge were established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. Throughout the 20th Century this region saw a lot of military history including Japanese occupation during World War II and the testing of underground nuclear bombs in the late 1960's and early 1970's. In 1980 President Jimmy Carter created Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge by merging several smaller refuges together.

Wildlife: Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the home of numerous wild animals including seals, walruses, polar bears, and roughly 40 million seabirds in the springtime. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors this refuge boasts beautiful landscapes, numerous angling opportunities, and so much more. Come on out and explore.