The Inian Islands guard the entrance to the Inside Passage, like stony sentinels they watch the tides churn and roil around them twice a day. Past them lies the Gulf of Alaska, the unbridled Pacific Ocean, and the upwelling currents that bring the nutrient rich waters into this shallow sieve. Fish are funneled into these channels between the islands and predators of all forms take advantage of this concentration of food, which makes for stunning views of wildlife.
8/1/2019
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National Geographic Venture
Baranof Island
After exploring the glaciers and open waters of the northern Inside Passage, we sailed south through the night and returned to the starting point of our journey, Baranof Island. This island, along with Admiralty to the east and Chichagof to the north, is home to one of the highest densities of brown bears in the world. To search for evidence of the bears as they begin their yearly salmon feast and continue our exploration of the temperate rainforest, we anchored in Kelp Bay to kayak and hike the shoreline throughout the morning. Later in the afternoon, we welcomed Dr. Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn more about ongoing research taking place in Alaska on the unique bubblenet feeding behavior we witnessed earlier in the trip. Only in Alaska can you experience the forest, salmon, bears, and whales all in one day.
