Alaska Cruise - from Vancouver - 135301

With a population of almost 500,000 Vancouver in British Columbia is the most important port at the Pacific. It is considered to be one of the safest and cleanest cities in the world and, on account of its sheltered location, it has a mild climate all year round. A special attraction at the northern edge of the city is Vancouver's Hausberg Grouse Mountain, which can be reached by a cable-car and has excellent facilities for winter sports and hillwalking as well as a wonderful view of the city. Capilano Suspension Bridge, measuring 137 m in length and suspended 70 m above a river gorge, which visitors can cross, is also nearby. Sights include: Gastown, Stanley Park, Chinatown, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, Harbour Centre with its viewing platform, the waterfront with a sea bus.

This area measures around 890,000 ha of wilderness and is around 35 km (as the crow flies) from Ketchikan. The wilderness of Alaska is part of the natural heritage of the United States of America. The fjords, with steep cliffs stretching around 900 m high, many turquoise-blue mountain lakes, countless rivers and formidable waterfalls are similar to those found in Scandinavia. The area also boasts a vast variety of wildlife - mountain goats, black and brown bears, river otters, porpoises, whales and sea-lions and many species of birds which can all be found in the thick forests and clear waters off the coast.

Sitka, founded by the Russians in 1804, was the capital of Russian Alaska for a long time. A dormant volcano rises around 1,000 m over the town surrounded by small islands. Sights such as the Russian-Orthodox church and the Russian bishop's house are a reminder of the Russian influence. In the Sitka National Historical Park visitors can see a collection of totem poles, a fort and a reconstruction of the battlefield of 1904. The Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Centre is also situated in this park. Here you can see local artists and craftsmen at work. The Sheldon Jackson Museum provides an insight into the culture of the native peoples and how they have survived the bitter cold climate through the ages. In the Alaska Wildlife Centre meanwhile you can see many native species of animal at close quarters.