Prince william sound travel alaska, usa lonely planet. Download scientific diagram killer whale study region in kenai fjords r prince william sound, ak. The minke whale is the smallest, but most abundant of the baleen whales. Wildlife viewing near prince william sound, alaska department. Mar 17, 2019 this rocky shoreline in prince william sound was treated with highpressure hot water in 1989 after the exxon valdez oil spill. Youll ride aboard the klondike express catamaran, which zips you from whittier deep into prince william sound. More than two decades later, have killer whales recovered. Sea otters, harbor seals, dall porpoise, harbor porpoise and even the stellers sea lions are seen in the sound as well. Prince william sound is a remote area with no road access from our side of the peninsula.
Cruise prince william sound in alaska for a look at humpback, gray and orca whales. Killer whales of southern alaska north gulf oceanic society. We fortunate to see two humpback whales while on our day cruise in prince william sound. Science entwines with matters of the human heart as a whale researcher chronicles the lives of an endangered family of orcas.
Longterm associations and insights on social structure of the. Prince william sound is a large body of sheltered water and part of the gulf of alaska. Killer whale orcinus orca deaths in prince william sound. You can check out the humpback fluke identification catalog showing some of the whales monitored under this program at. In the years following the exxon valdez oil spill, pacific herring populations in prince william sound, alaska, underwent a dramatic decline and have failed to. Many people requested that we design an alaska kayak tour that. Alaska marine mammal viewing guidelines and regulations booklet. Cugatski zaliv is a sound of the gulf of alaska on the south coast of the u. Harbor seals, sea otters, orca whales, black bears, mountain goats, and bald eagles live and play in these beautiful waters. The sound is located on the eastern side of the kenai peninsula.
Valdez is the largest seaport and the terminus of the trans alaska pipeline. Video from discovery voyages trip in prince william sound, alaska. Major marine tours prince william sound glacier cruise, whittier. Words alone cannot begin to describe the serenity and rugged beauty of prince william sound. Prince william sound adventures have been transporting hunter and their game on unguided black bear and black tail deer hunts throughout the prince william sound for decades. Prince william sound alaska 2020 all you need to know.
This study addressed the lack of recovery of pacific herring clupea pallasii in prince william sound, alaska, in relation to humpback whale megaptera. Anchorage is alaska s largest city where many visitors start their alaska vacation. The best time for whale watching in alaska getaway usa. Most of the land surrounding prince william sound is within the chugach national forest, the second largest national forest in the united states.
Prince william sound encompasses 10,000 square miles of protected waterways, islands, fjords, as well as 10,000 glaciers. Alaska offers some of the best fishing in the world and the prince william sounds eshamy bay, eshamy lagoon, and eshamy lake, live up to their name eshamy means place of great fishing. Lazy otter offers classic tours, but this is a water taxi, so theyll also take you anywhere you want to go within price william sound or just customize a tour to whatever you want to see. Prince william sound whale watching cruises are available out of valdez and whittier alaska and rate high amongst alaska cruise ship passengers and visitors alike. Seasonal presence and potential influence of humpback whales on. Home of the world famous copper river, this region features all five salmon species, as well as a healthy marine fishery. It is the fourthlargest island in the united states after hawaii, kodiak island, and puerto rico and the 97thlargest island in the world. The banding in this photo, from 2003, shows lichen dark upper band, brown aglae greenishyellow, barnacles white, and mussels black lower patches.
They have examined both the two pods of whales exposed to the oil in prince william sound as well as the other resident and transient pods which were not in the oiled areas at the time. In recent years ab pod has been seen less often inside prince william sound. Apr 01, 2009 orca and humpback whales in prince william sound alaska on a paddlers realm sea kayaking expedition. Seasonal distribution of dalls porpoise in prince william sound, alaska. Prince william sound adventures has been able to view most of these species on the whale watching tours we provide. You can also access the sound from the north, at the port of valdez, via the richardson highway.
This islandspeckled sound named for an 18thcentury british prince is home to precipitous fjords, sheersided coastal mountains, numerous boomcrashing tidal glaciers, remarkable bird and animal life, and three very unique villages that guard the gates to. During the 5hour tourwhich includes a hot lunchtravels over 140 miles, cruising to the face of surprise glacier in harriman fjord, explore. Wildlife abounds in the form of whales, seals, sea lions, eagles, bears and deer. Although not as commonly seen as the orca or the humpback, we do see them every season as they return to the rich waters of prince william sound. Major marine tours prince william sound glacier cruise. Please note that itineraries of alaska kayak tours may change spontaneously due to weather and sea conditions.
Click the map to download a printable version that you can zoom and save. Alaska is fortunate to have eight species of whales that frequent the cold waters. As a result of the very rich waters of prince william sound, we are lucky to have an abundant population of humpback whales, some of which migrate here in the summer months to feed, and others which stay in the sound year round. Prince william sound fishing eshamy bay lodge alaska. The waters of harriman fjord are the most protected from winds in all of prince william sound.
Distribution of killer whale pods in prince william sound, alaska 19841996 article pdf available in marine mammal science 173. Wildlife abounds in the form of whales, seals, sea lions. Prince william sound is a large inlet in the gulf of alaska along the southern coast of alaska. Travel alaska southcentral alaska prince william sound. Prince william sound, alaska department of fish and game. Alaskas foodrich waters support 8 species of whales. Great alaska guests access this amazing region on day cruises of kenai fjords national park, and our fishing guests access it via our 29 foot offshore cruisers, the stellar and the fair chase. Their signature tour is the 26 glacier cruise, which has been running since 1987. Two types of killer whales inhabit the gulf of alaska. His maps editors, however, later changed the name to honor prince william henry of england. Today it remains one of alaskas most scenic places, and the coastlines dramatic fjords must be seen from the water. Gateway to prince william sound phillips glacier cruises. An astute passenger first spotted the whales in the distance, and our boat chased the whales from one spot to another for about 15 minutes until we finally. Is this attraction exciting, unusual, or risky to visit.
Explore prince william sound holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Unpublished report by north gulf oceanic society, cordova, alaska, for national marine fisheries service, juneau, ak, usa. Alaska whale photos and information about the whales in alaska. Prince william sound pws is a mixture of glacierhewn fjords, rainforestblanketed islands, and rugged mountain peaks. It is located on the east side of the kenai peninsula. Through a tunnel roadway completed in 2000, the western prince william sound community of whittier offers a gateway to this marine wilderness about an hours drive from alaska s largest city, anchorage. Prince william sound is home to many of alaskas favorite marine mammals but the killer whale orcas, minke whales, and humpback whales in prince william sound are not the only marine mammals to be seen. Simultaneously, the recovery of north pacific humpback whales barlow et al. Various species of whales migrate between the warm coastal waters of mexico and the frigid waters of alaska. Since the 1989 oil spill, scientists have followed closely the killer whale populations of southeast alaska.
When to see whales humpbacks can be seen in prince william sound anytime during the summer months, with may, june and july being the top months to catch a glimpse. Humpback whale, prince william sound, alaska patrick j. Killer whale interactions with the sablefish longline fishery in prince william sound, alaska 1985, with comments on the bering sea. Prince william sound is also the location of the 1989 valdez oil spill that coated many miles of the pristine. Mike asks your personal priorities and design the 8to9hour day accordingly. Humpback whales average 4045 feet long but can reach lengths of up to 55 feet. Blues and minke whales also feed in prince william sound during the summer. Prince william sound, alaska kayaking with ilene price. Alaska marine mammal viewing guidelines and regulations. Home photo gallery alaska photo tours arizona photo workshops about us photo blog prince william sound photos o ur stock photos of prince william sound include photos of wildlife, recreation, aerials, glaciers and landscapes found in prince william sound and the chugach national forest. Prince william sound alaska all you need to know before. Whale watching is one of the top activities in alaska s prince william sound, where patient visitors are often rewarded with views of active orcas and humpback whales. To truly appreciate this special area of alaska, please come and see it for yourself. Pwss complex coastline, protected waters, and close proximity to nutrientrich gulf of alaska waters support a broad array of marine life.
From whittier to valdez and cordova, prince william sound hosts some of the most significant salmon runs in the state of alaska. Prince william sound college pwsc is a small and affordable twoyear college located in a beautiful valdez, alaska. North gulf oceanic society whale research, conservation. Drone views of humpback whales feeding in alaska prince. Prince william sound in the northern apex of the gulf of alaska. Well take the boat for a beach landing so you can explore the beaches of prince william sound.
Wildlife viewing near prince william sound, alaska. Jul 27, 2014 take an aerial look at a large group of humpback whales working together in alaska s pristine prince william sound. Prince william sound humpback whale fluke identification catalog. Seasonal distribution of dalls porpoise in prince william sound. The beluga, humpback, grey, orca, bowhead, blue, right, and minke whales. Distribution of killer whale pods in prince william sound, alaska. Whale watching can take place practically anywhere in prince william sound, but keep in mind that the whales typically dont hang out in glacial water, as they have trouble filtering the silt through their baleen. Prince william sound alaska map alaska whale watching. Explorer james cook first discovered the sound in 1778, promptly naming it sandwich sound after the earl of sandwich. Pwsc offers specialty degree and certificate programs in outdoor leadership and industrial technology. Soak in the breathtaking scenery of fjords, glaciers, waterfalls and bays whether kayaking, sailing or cruising through the calm waters.
A quick trip to prince william sound opens up a wonderland of massive glaciers, dense spruce forests, and abundant wildlife to explore on our glacier and wildlife cruises. Distribution of killer whale pods in prince william sound. Eshamy bay is the home of the second largest run of sockeye or red salmon in the prince william sound. Whale watching in anchorage starts with the belugas cruising in cook inlet. Through a tunnel roadway completed in 2000, the western prince william sound community of whittier offers a gateway to this marine wilderness about an hours drive from alaskas largest city, anchorage. Fly into anchorage, alaska to spend the night at a hotel to get rested for your kayak adventure. Countless whales spend the summer near alaska shores feeding, and views of these. Ever since eva saulitis began her whale research in alaska in the 1980s, she has been drawn deeply into the lives of a single extended family of endangered orcas struggling to survive in prince william sound. The region offers habitat for whales, porpoise, sea otters, sea lions and seals. Cooperative bubblenet feeding among humpbacks is a phenomenon unique to alaska. Killer whale study region in kenai fjords r prince william sound, ak. There are also some private lodges and residences around the sound, along with 5 hatcheries and several oyster farms. Instead, whales prefer deeper, clearer water, where there is more krill.
Pwsc is accredited through the university of alaska anchorage. Maybe thats glaciers, or whales,or maybe its quiet time on a secluded beach. Diverse wildlife, boreal forest, rugged coastline, sea caves, towering icebergs, serene bays and coves, cascading waterfalls, pristine beaches, glacial moraine, and the dramatic recentlyrevealed landscape from the retreat of the largest tidewater glacier in prince william sound. May 23, 2020 soak in the breathtaking scenery of fjords, glaciers, waterfalls and bays whether kayaking, sailing or cruising through the calm waters. Our priority is to make the day yours and explore the things you like to see. Located on the eastern side of the kenai peninsula and south of the chugach mountains, prince william sound is renowned for stunning mountain views, calving glaciers, abundant marine wildlife, and worldclass fishing. Minkes have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its very gray top color.
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