Alaska and Canada May 26-June 9, 2023 June 2

Today we visit the small fishing village of Petersburg. Petersburg has about 3400 inhabitants and is located at the northern end of Mitkof Island, part of the Alexander Archipelago, halfway between Juneau, which is 190 km to the north, and Ketchikan, which is 180 km to the south. It is located in the so-called Alaska Panhandle. The town primarily relies on fishing. Native groups recognized this opportunity at least 2000 years ago, and in the 19th century, Norwegian Peter Buschmann, after whom the town is named, operated a factory for canned fish. In addition, tourism has become an important economic factor. More Norwegian immigrants followed, and the town received the nickname "Little Norway". Norwegian National Day, May 17, has been celebrated since 1958. Civil rights activist Elisabeth Peratrovich, who helped pass the first anti-discrimination law in the United States in 1945 and advocated for civil rights for local Indians, left her house to the Petersburg Indian Association. Therefore, since October 2008, the cultural center has been named the Elizabeth Peratrovich Center. Petersburg is Alaska's largest fish producer, but the boom of the 1980s is over. According to the American Fisheries Authority, in 2004, 103 million pounds of fish, equivalent to approximately 46,720 tons, were handled in Petersburg, making it the twelfth largest fishing port in the United States. In 2008, the port generated $34.2 million in seafood sales. However, the timber industry declined while tourism continued to expand. In 2008, 40,000 visitors came to Petersburg. It's an original small beautiful Alaskan town. On our way back to the boat, we can observe a group of sea lions sunbathing very closely. We continue our journey through Stephens Passage with a view of the impressive snow-covered mountain range.