The Sitka Channel is a strait that separates Japonski Island from Baranof Island in

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

. The Sitka Channel, or more commonly referred to as simply The Channel by locals, is a notable feature of

Sitka, Alaska Sitka (; ) is a municipal home rule, unified Consolidated city-county, city-borough in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Alaska. It was under Russian America, Russian rule from 1799 to 1867. The city is situated on the west side of Ba ...

that separates vital portions of infrastructure located on the peripheral Japonski Island from the rest of the community. Until 1972 the commute was only achievable through a schedule of shore boats that carried an estimated 1,000 people a day for 26 years. The ferries were retired when the John O'Connell Bridge was constructed (named after John W. O'Connell, a former mayor of Sitka). The Sitka Channel features numerous wharfs, piers, seafood processing plants, and harbors serving its thriving seafood industries as well as port facilities for the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

vessel USCG ''Maple''.

References

Bodies of water of Sitka, Alaska Straits of Alaska {{SitkaAK-geo-stub