Lying 212 miles NW of Juneau, with a population of only 662, the borough covers an area about six times the size of Rhode Island, making in one of the largest “counties” in the U.S. It is located along the Alaskan Gulf Coast between Sitka and Cordova with the Gulf of Alaska on the South, nearly impenetrable mountains to the North, and coastal glaciers to the East and West, and it is about as remote as one can get in Alaska. There are no roads leading into or out and all commerce and access occurs via air or sea. Yakutaat is surrounded by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Tongass National Forest.
It is also the home to a vibrant, bustling fish-processing industry and the folks who are frequent ferry passengers know to hurry ashore during the brief stop to pick up some fresh Halibut or Cod. The waters surrounding Yakutat are simply indescribable - but let me tell you - as you leave, you encounter a sight that literally takes your breath away; Mount St. Elias, second tallest mountain in the U.S.
Rising from the mist like some mystical island from. "Gulliver's Travels" or "Star Wars". It is one of the strangest, most moving sights I have ever seen. Awesome!! Named by explorer Vitus Bering for the Danish holiday on which he first saw it, Mt. St. Elias sits at the head of the largest piedmont glacier in North America, Malaspina Glacier. As we turned further northward toward our next stop, Whittier, we were again treated to an absolutely spectacular "chamber of commerce" sunset.
Key West, eat your heart out!!! But, it's getting late so we'd better let you get rested up for our early morning excursion to Whittier. Get back here by 6:00 am, OK? See Ya.
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