The fish, wildlife and wild places of Southeast Alaska are the foundation of the unique quality of life enjoyed throughout the region.

This beautiful and wild country is home to more than 75,000 Alaskans, many of whom earn their livelihoods directly or indirectly from the Tongass rainforest.

Alaska Natives, including the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian, have lived in the coastal rainforest for centuries. Independent, self-sufficient and diverse, the people of Alaska’s rainforest are tied to the land and water.

The Tongass remains a land of incredible beauty and wild riches. The people of the Tongass have the opportunity to foster sustainable communities that grow in harmony with the natural resources of Southeast Alaska.

Some of the communities of Southeast Alaska (from north to south) include:

• Yakutat:  Known for commercial and sport fishing, Yakutat is located at the mouth of Yakutat Bay, an important refuge for vessels traveling over the Gulf of Alaska. The name Yakutat is derived from a Tlingit word meaning ‘where the canoes rest.’
  
• Skagway:  Known as the gateway to the Klondike during Alaska’a Gold Rush, Skagway is known today for its access to outdoor recreation and for tourism opportunities.
  
• Haines:  Haines is one of the only communities in Southeast Alaska accessible by road. In November, thousands of eagles flock to Haines for the last North American salmon run of the year resulting in the highest concentration of eagles in the world.
  
• Gustavus:  Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park and boasts ample recreation opportunities including whale-watching, kayaking, camping, mountaineering, and dog-mushing.
  
• Hoonah:  Hoonah has been home to the Huna Tlingit for thousands of years. Today, many Tlingit people around Hoonah maintain a subsistence lifestyle.
  
• Pelican:  With the motto of “closest to fish,” Pelican’s economy has long been based on commercial fishing and fish processing. It is also considered to be the starting point to the Chichagof & Yakobi Island Wilderness Area.
  
• Juneau:  Juneau has been the capital of Alaska since 1906 when it was moved from Sitka. Besides the state government, its economy also boasts a large commercial fishing fleet and tourism industry.
  
• Tenakee Springs:  Tenakee is a small town based around a series of hot springs. In order to get around town, Tenakee’s residents use ATV’s and bicycles rather than cars.
  
• Angoon:  The only permanent settlement on Admiralty Island traditionally called Kootznoowoo or Fortress of the bears, the mainly Tlingit community of Angoon is surrounded by permanently protected lands and the world’s highest density of brown bears.
  
• Sitka:  Sitka was the original Russian capital of Alaska and holds a well-known Alaska Day festival each year. It is also the largest incorporated city in square miles in the United States.
  
• Kake:  Kake, which translates in English to ‘the town that never sleeps’ is located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. It is the ancestral home of the Kake Tlingit.
  
• Petersburg:  Founded by Scandinavians and often called “Little Norway,” Petersburg is fishing village near the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area and the LeConte Glacier.
  
• Pt. Baker
  
• Wrangell:  Wrangell is located near the Stikine River, one of the largest rivers in Southeast Alaska and one few rivers that cut through the coastal range. Wrangell is the only city in Alaska to have served under four ‘flags’: Tlingit, Russian, British and American.
  
• Klawock
  
• Craig:  Named after the owner of a nearby fish saltery, the commercial fishing community of Craig is the largest community on Prince of Wales Island. It offers many services that aren’t available elsewhere on the island.
  
• Hydaburg:  Hydaburg was officially formed in 1911 when the Haida communities of Sukkwan, Klinkwan and Howkan combined so that their children could attend school. Today, many Haida people still live in Hydaburg.
  
• Ketchikan:  Ketchikan is one of Alaska’s rainiest cities with 165 inches of precipitation each year. It has also been named one of the top 100 arts communities in the United States.