Page 209 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

SOUTHWEST ALASK A  207

Clouds hanging over the peaks of Afognak Island, north of Kodiak
P Fort Abercrombie State O Kodiak National Wildlife currently home to about 3,500
Historical Park Refuge Kodiak brown bears, as well
Miller Point Road, 5 miles (8 km) E SW of Kodiak. ~ chartered float plane as 50 million wild salmon,
of Kodiak. Tel 486-6339. Open park: from Kodiak. g from Kodiak. n 402 representing all five Alaskan
24 hrs; visitors’ center: 8:30am–noon, Center St, 487-2626.   ∑ fws. species. There are also 250
1–5pm Mon–Fri.  ∑ dnr.alaska. gov/refuge/kodiak bird species and 1.5 million
gov/parks/units/kodiak/ftaber.htm Established in 1941 to seabirds. The refuge
The lovely Fort Abercrombie protect the Kodiak bear has no roads or trails,
State Historical Park lies on Miller and sea mammals, the so access is limited to
Point along Rezanof Road. In Kodiak National Wildlife float plane, bush flights,
June 1941, fearing a Japanese Refuge covers most of or watercraft from Kodiak
attack on Alaska, President the south western end town. The most popular
Franklin D Roosevelt authorized of Kodiak Island, as well activity is taking a half- or
the establishment of a 780-acre as Uganik and Ban Islands one-day flightseeing trip
(312-ha) military post at Miller and much of the Red Peaks to prime bear-viewing areas
Point. After the attack on Pearl area on Afognak Island. Alaskan such as Frazer Lake and
Harbor, coastal defense gun This wild area sprawls wildflower Karluk Lake. The refuge
emplace ments were installed on over 3,405 sq miles also offers backcountry
the site. Although the garrisons (8,820 sq km) of rugged moun- camping, rafting, hunting,
were removed some time ago, tains, lakes, bogs, and meadows, and fishing opportunities
remnants of the searchlight and includes hundreds of miles at the popular Karluk and
bunkers, pillbox bunkers, of convoluted shoreline. It is Ayakulik Rivers.
ammunition dumps, and gun
emplacements can still be seen Kodiak Bears
around the lovely wooded site.
The Kodiak Military History The Kodiak archipelago
Museum, with a wealth of is home to around 3,500
military artifacts, is housed in Kodiak brown bears (Ursos
the Ready Ammunition Bunker arctos middendorffi), the
on the Miller Point Headland. world’s largest land carni-
The park, crisscrossed by vores. While sows weigh
numerous short hiking trails, is 400 to 600 lbs (180 to 270
accessed on a forest road that kg), the boars weigh from
leads past the picnic site at Lake 800 to 1,500 lbs (360 to
675 kg) and can stand up
Gertrude, where anglers can fish to 12 ft (4 m) tall on their
for stocked rainbow trout and hind legs. The omnivo rous Solitary Kodiak bear on Kodiak Island
grayling. Beyond is a campsite bears stay at sea level during spring, feeding on grasses, but as
in lush, mossy spruce forest. summer progresses, they move uphill to eat alpine shoots. In mid-
July, they begin congre gat ing around streams to partake in a feast
E Kodiak Military History of spawning sal mon. Pregnant sows enter their winter dens, usually
Museum natural rock outcrops, in fall. They bear two to three cubs by late
1417 Mill Bay Rd. Tel 486-7015. Open January, who emerge from the den when they are about four months
Jun–Aug: 1–4pm Fri–Mon; May & Sep: old. Cubs typically stay with their mother for two to three years.
1–4pm Sat & Sun. & ∑ kadiak.org

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