ABC Islands (Alaska)

This article is about an insular region in the United States. For the island grouping in the Dutch Caribbean, see ABC islands (Lesser Antilles). For similarly named localities elsewhere, see ABC#Places.

The ABC Islands is the colloquial name for the Alaskan islands of Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof in the northern part of the Alexander Archipelago, which are all part of the Tongass National Forest. The islands are known for their wilderness and wildlife, which include a clade of brown bear that is more closely related to polar bears[1] than to other living brown bears.

Most of the islands' area is federally protected wilderness. The city of Sitka has its urban center on the west coast of Baranof Island. Outside of Sitka, there is only minimal industry and human presence on the islands, despite the fact that Admiralty (7th), Baranof (10th) and Chichagof (5th) are among the largest islands in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ Alaska Science Forum: "The Brown Bear: Father of the Polar Bear?"

Coordinates: 57°24′00″N 134°43′59″W / 57.4°N 134.733°W / 57.4; -134.733


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