Select a question from the following list:
About Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
World War II
Fishing/Seafood Industry
Local Services/Activities
The Ounalashka Corporation is closed, how do I obtain a permit?
The post office is closed, is there anywhere else I can buy stamps?
What kind of
transportation is available? Choose
one of the many taxicabs or rent a vehicle from B.C. Vehicle Rental or
North Port Rentals.
Is there public
access to the internet? Visit
the Unalaska Public Library to check e-mail.
Is there a
public telephone I can use? Public
phones are located inside Eagle Quality Center, Alaska Commercial, Grand
Aleutian and the Library.
What kinds of
tours are available? Land
tours with ALEUT Tours and Extra Mile Tours. Marine tours are with some
of the fishing charters, AVI Charters, Farwest Outfitters, Shuregood
Adventures and Silver Cloud Charters. An air tour can be arranged with
Peninsula Airways (Pen Air). Kayaking tours are available through
Aleutian Adventure Sports.
Where can I buy
a fishing license? Alaska
State fishing licenses can be obtained from Alaska Commercial Company, Eagle Quality
Center and the Grand Aleutian Gift Shop.
Where can I buy
a derby ticket? Unalaska
World Record Halibut Derby tickets can be obtained from Alaska
Commercial Company, Alaska Ship Supply, Carl’s, Eagle Quality Center,
Gas N Go, Grand Aleutian, LFS, and at the UniSea Liquor Store.
Are there places
to camp? There are places
to camp and it is necessary to get more information from Ounalashka
Corporation and obtain a permit.
Are there places
to hike? There are places
to hike and it is necessary to obtain a land use permit from the
Ounalashka Corporation.
The Ounalashka
Corporation is closed, how do I obtain a permit? Contact
an OC Security Officer at 581-1477.
Is there an ATM
machine available? There
is an ATM machine located inside Eagle Quality Center and one at the bank (Key
Bank) located at the Alaska Commercial shopping center.
The post office
is closed, is there anywhere else I can buy stamps? Both
Eagle Quality and Alaska Commercial sell stamps at their registers.
Where can I find
information on the City of Unalaska? Information on the City of Unalaska as well information on events and
activities can be obtained from the Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor
Convention & Visitors Bureau. The CVB is located in the Historic
Burma Road Chapel or the building better known as the old PCR or old
library next to the PCR.
Are there any
canoes or kayaks for rent? There
are unfortunately no canoes or kayaks for rent but there is a company
providing kayaking tours. Contact Aleutian Adventures Sports for more
information at (888) 581-4489 or e-mail him at advsports@arctic.net.
Are there any
bikes for rent? There are
bikes to rent, contact Aleutian Adventure Sports for more information
(888) 581-4489 or e-mail him at advsports@arctic.net.
Where can I buy
fishing supplies? Fishing
supplies can be purchased at Carl’s Hardware, Alaska Commercial and
Eagle Quality.
What’s the
tallest point? Makushin,
an active volcano, is 6,680 feet tall.
What is the average temperature in Unalaska? Our temperature is a northern maritime climate, which means that they are fairly moderate. In the summer the average is 60 degrees and 30 degrees average in the winter.
What is the best
month to come? July and
August are the best months to be on the island if you are looking for
good weather.
Is there a local
bank? Key Bank is located
in the Alaska Commercial shopping center.
When did the
Japanese bomb Dutch Harbor? June
3 and 4 of 1942.
How many troops
served here in the Aleutians? Approximately
40,000.
What is the
population? Approximately
4,300 people year round with a 5,000 – 10,000 transient population.
Where can I buy
crab to take back with me? You
can usually obtain “home packs” of crab from any of the local
seafood plants. Check with the Grand Aleutian as they are a part of
UniSea, Inc.
What are the
fishing seasons? SALMON
– from May to November, HALIBUT May to December (World Record Halibut
Derby is May to
Sept.), SILVERS – end of June, early August to November
Can you fish for
kings? Yes. Front beach is
the best place to pole fish for kings; however, they are rare in our
waters. You are more likely to catch red, pink and silver salmon,
depending upon the time of summer you are fishing.
What are the nets out in the water for? They are gillnets, which local residents use for subsistence fishing. Each family is allowed 25 fish per family member for the year. This fishery is open to all residents of the community.
How big is the
island? The island is
115.8 sq miles of land with 98.6 sq miles of water.
What is that siren I hear? This siren is part of our Tsunami Warning System. The system is tested once a month, generally at noon on the 15th. If you hear it at any other time, and it keeps wailing, head to higher ground. If it sounds only briefly, it was an additional test of the system. If it is an actual emergency, Public Safety vehicles will be driving around announcing to move to higher ground from their public announcement systems.
What do I do if the siren is for real? It is best to get to higher ground immediately, which is anything above City Hall or the Public Safety Department.
What does the
World Record Halibut weigh? The
World Record halibut weighed 459lbs
What is the
weight I need to break the World Record Halibut? 461
lbs 5 oz or more
What are the big
cement objects anchored in the ground? They
are cement bunkers left over from World War II.
How many miles
are there of paved road? There
are approximately 6 miles of paved road
What are the
total miles of road? There
are approximately 38 miles of road.
How do I get inside the Russian Orthodox Cathedral? You can contact either of the tour companies. For the summer, the church will be open to the public on Saturday at 6:00 pm and Sunday at 9:00 am before services. If you enter the church during services, please respect the Aleut traditions and remain quiet, remove any hats and stand on the correct side of the church, males on right side and females on the left. The benches available are for the elders and for those who are unable or have difficulty standing. Photographs are not allowed inside the church. There is a $5.00 fee to go inside the church. Other times may be arranged by the staff at the Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor CVB.
What are the
zigzag lines on the mountain above the AC building and the Dutch Harbor Post
Office? They are fox
holes and trenches that were dug into mountainside during World War II.
How did Unalaska
get it’s name? The name
of UNALASKA is rooted in the changes which a native Aleut (Unangan) word
has experienced over the last two hundred years. The Aleuts called the
Alaska Peninsula “Alaxsxa” for mainland. The Russians adopted this
as “Alyaska” from which Alaska is derived. Unalaska Island may have
derived its name from its proximity to the Alaskan Peninsula.
“Agunalaksh” is a Russian spelling of an original Aleut word. The
present day spelling was established between 1890 and 1899 by the United
States Board on Geographical names, standardizing the spelling from
several variations used up to that time, including “Ounalashka,” “Ounalaska,”
“Oonlaska,” and “Oonalashka.” Thus “Unalaska” does not mean
not-Alaska, the name defines its geographical location in terms of the
Alaska Peninsula.
How did Dutch
Harbor get its name? This
specific harbor is one of many within the greater Unalaska Bay and is
said to have been given its name because a Dutch vessel was the first to
anchor there. The name dates from the late 18th Century. In
the 1880’s a dock was built at Dutch Harbor and people sailing to
Unalaska booked passage for Dutch Harbor. During WWII the military
constructed a runway at Dutch Harbor, not far from the dock. After the
war, private airplanes took over the airstrip. People flying into
Unalaska were ticketed for Dutch Harbor.
What are the big
metal frames with nets attached? They
are the crab pots used by the fishing boats for crab fishing.
Home Page | Activities | History | Photo Gallery | Calendar of Events | Lodging & Dining | Transportation | Gift Shop | Meeting Planner | Media | Member Services | Request a FREE Visitors Guide | about us
Unalaska/Port
of Dutch Harbor Convention and Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 545, Unalaska, Alaska 99685
(907) 581-2612 or (877) 581-2612
Fax (907) 581-2613
updhcvb@arctic.net