Unalaska & Dutch Harbor

Introducing Unalaska & Dutch Harbor

Unalaska, on Unalaska Island, and its sister town Dutch Harbor, on Amaknak Island, are at the confluence of the North Pacific and the Bering Sea, one of the world's richest fisheries. Dutch Harbor is the only natural deepwater port in the Aleutians, and more than 400 vessels call here each year from as many as 14 countries. The two towns are connected by the 500ft Bridge to the Other Side.

In summer the area's population can double with the influx of cannery workers who process seafood, mostly crab and pollack. Dutch Harbor is a transport center for the Bristol Bay salmon fishery. Since 1988 the towns have led the nation in both volume and value of seafood processed. There are five major seafood plants, whose 2000 workers churn out more than 800 million pounds of seafood annually for export. Offshore fishing vessels, ranging from 70ft crab boats to 700ft floating processors, employ more workers.

Dutch Harbor is the site of the canneries and fish-processing plants, and is something of an industrial park. Unalaska is where most residents live and, despite the large influx of transient workers, it can be a charming and friendly town if you have the time to enjoy it. Unfortunately, people returning on the ferry really don't. To stay longer, you can either splurge on an expensive airline ticket before you get there or be reckless and arrive hoping to pick up a cheaper one in town. Either way, a few days in Unalaska can be a refreshing cure for anybody who is suffering from an overdose of RVers, cruise ships and tour buses.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009