Alaska's Extensive Coastline and Peninsulas (P1)

PASSAGE 4

Surrounding Alaska on all but one side are two oceans and a vast sea, giving this state the longest coastline in the United States. In fact, if the coastlines of all of its peninsulas and islands are considered, Alaska has a longer coastline, 33,904 miles 54,563 kilometers, than all the other 49 states together.

Most of the state lies on a peninsula, bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Bering Sea to the west, and the Pacific Ocean on the southwest, south, and southeast. This peninsula, stretching away from the rest of North America, forms the northwest corner of the continent. One of the world's largest peninsulas, it is partly shared with Canada on the east.

The seas indent the shores of the main peninsula to form other peninsulas that contribute some of the most outstanding features to Alaska's outline. Most notable of these is the Alaska Peninsula. The peninsula itself is 550 miles 885 kilometers long, before the spectacular chain of islands reaches toward Asia.

Another of Alaska's large peninsulas is Seward, in which a number of smaller eastern states could be swallowed up. The Kenai Peninsula, less extensive than Seward, is about the size of the state of Maryland.

Part of Alaska's ocean heritage, many islands lie along the fringes of the state. Much of southeastern Alaska is made up of the Alexander Archipelago of 1100 islands, including Baranof, Kuiu and Admiralty. Continuing up the coast are the islands of Prince William Sound. The Aleutian Islands pursue their bleak and windswept course in a long arc that encloses the Bering Sea. Included in the Aleutian chain are whole archipelagoes, such as the Fox, Near, and Rat islands.