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Alaska Glaciers |
Sea Lions |
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The watery blue highway known as the Inside Passage
stretches from the southern tip of
 Vancouver Island,
along British Columbia’s rugged coastline and up to the
lower reaches of Southeast Alaska. Mariners know that
“inside” means “protected” so the Inside Passage
generally offers smooth sailing because the waters are
protected by offshore islands.
The deep fjords and countless coves of the Inside
Passage were gouged out by the great glaciers of the
last ice age. Today, people from all over the world are
drawn to visit the deep channels, quiet bays, forested
islands, steep mountains and cascading waterfalls. The
ever-changing natural beauty of this 1,000-mile (1,600
km) long waterway is much as it was when Captain
Vancouver first explored the northwest coast over 200
years ago.
For thousands of years, native peoples have plied these
waters in canoes carved from massive cedar logs. Today,
a wide variety of other vessels use this marine highway:
- Tugboats tow log booms and scows loaded with woodchips, gravel or equipment.
- Fishing boats of all types travel in search of seafood.
- Self-propelled barges haul food for fish farms, raw logs, equipment for logging camps, and supplies for coastal communities.
- Pleasure craft of all sizes explore coastal waterways and marine parks of this environmentally rich area.
- Cruise ships and charter boats carry thousands of tourists to local and Alaskan destinations.
- Military ships conduct maneuvers and patrol borders.
- Cargo ships of various sizes transport fuel and goods.
- Coast Guard ships ensure marine safety, support commercial shipping, and respond to marine pollution.
- Ferries provide a link between the mainland and various coastal communities,
- Water taxis and patrol boats carry passengers or crew and sometimes light freight.
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