On a clear day, one of Alaska's loveliest volcanoes (and the only one in Southeast Alaska) stands as a sentinel dominating and guarding the entrance to Sitka Sound on the outer coast of the Alexander Archipelago. Due in part to a relatively high amount of silica, this is a classic symmetrical, steep-sided, snow-capped composite volcano. It rises 3,201 feet directly from sea level on Kruzof Island. It is situated near the boundary between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates, which are sliding by each other laterally. There has not been an eruption here for about 9,000 years and Mount Edgecumbe is said to be a dormant volcano. Although activity does not appear to be imminent, it is still a possibility in the future and therefore the volcano is not considered to be extinct.
Cruising through the narrow straits on our way to Sitka this morning we observed Sitka black-tailed deer, sea otters, harbor seals, mink, and on shore, large brown bear tracks.
We visited the historic Russian capitol formerly known as New Archangel. While at the dock we learned that fishing can be a great spectator sport - when bald eagles are doing the fishing. Our tour of this town of fewer than 9,000 people included the Sheldon Jackson Museum, the raptor rehabilitation center and St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Our afternoon culminated with a Tlingit dance presentation in the local tribal house.
In the later evening hours, with plenty of daylight still remaining to explore nearby bays, those out on the decks were rewarded with our first sighting of a brown (grizzly) bear to top off this excellent day.
