Page 80 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

78  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

to 250,000 king salmon smolt,
which swim downstream into
Cook Inlet, spending seven
years at sea before returning
to spawn. To the north of the
bridge across Ship Creek, a
viewing plat form gives visitors
the oppor tunity to observe
the salmon crowding their
way upstream and jumping
at the weir.
In the summer, anglers in
hip-waders descend to the
riverbanks in hopes of reeling
in one of the 5,000 fish that are
caught here each year. To fish
here requires an Alaska fishing
license, which is available in
local shops. Fishing derbies
may yield up to $10,000 for
lucky anglers who catch
specially tagged fish.
w Tony Knowles
Coastal Trail
Western end of 2nd Ave. Map B4.
Traditional domes and crosses of St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral @ 7A. 7
0 St. Innocent can be seen during services, The most popular biking and
Russian Orthodox on feast days, or during other jogging trail in Anchorage,
Cathedral significant events of the Russian the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
passes the attractive Elderberry
Orthodox calendar.
401 Turpin St. Map F1. Tel 333-9723. Park on the down town
@ 8. Open only for services. 7 ^ q Ship Creek waterfront and follows the
5 6pm Sat, 9am Sun, 6pm Thu. coastline south to Kincaid Park.
∑ sicanc.org Salmon Viewing One of the highlights along
Platform the 11 mile (17 km) trail is
The heart of Russian Orthodox North side of Ship Creek footbridge, Westchester Lagoon, where
activity in the Anchorage area, off Whitney Ave. Map E3. Open 24 hrs. walkers can observe waterfowl
this beautiful cathedral was Derby tickets: available at the cabin or cross over to the gravel
named in honor of the erudite next to Comfort Inn on the south beaches of Knik Arm. On
18th-century bishop Ioan bank of Ship Creek. clear days, there are great
Veniaminov. Arriving in Unalaska views across Cook Inlet to the
in the early 1820s, he built Flowing between downtown volcano, Mount Spurr. Midway
churches and schools, developed and the Port of Anchorage, along the route, Earthquake
a written version of the Aleut Ship Creek is a mecca for urban Park has exhibits on the
language, and produced an Aleut fishermen. Each year, the nearby devasta ting 1964 Good Friday
Bible, for which he was canonized salmon hatchery releases up earth quake, which created the
in 1977 as St. Innocent. Due
largely to the efforts of such
missionaries, Alaska is today
the leading diocese of the
Russian Orthodox Church
in the Western Hemisphere.
The most striking features
of St. Innocent are its 12 blue
onion domes. As with most
Orthodox places of worship, the
cathedral is full of beautifully
colored icons, paintings, and
religious artifacts. Although the
cathe dral is usually closed to
the public, its opulent interior Cyclists pedaling down Anchorage’s scenic Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p242 and pp250–51

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