Sitka Facts and Figures

Location

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Sitka is located on the outer coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska, facing the Pacific Ocean. (Click here to check out the map showing Sitka and Southeast Alaska.) It is along the great circle air route to Japan, Korea, China, and Southeast Asia, and also a port of call along the Inside Passage - the coastal route for oceangoing vessels plying between the US mainland and the coastal islands. The Inside Passage is heavily travelled by cruise ships, freighters, fishing craft and ships of the Alaska Marine Highway and BC Ferries systems. No roads connect Sitka to the rest of the State but it is easily accessible by air and water.

Sitka was the capital of Russian America from 1799 until 1867 when Alaska was transferred from Russia to the United States. Long before the settling of San Francisco, Sitka became the leading economic center of the northern hemisphere with the first boatyard, lighthouse, sawmill, iron, brass and bronze foundries, and flour mill. The area has scenic beauty possessed by few world communities.

Climate