Alaska and Canada May 26th - June 9th, 2023 June 3rd

Today our dream journey continues towards Sitka, which is located on the open coast of the Inside Passage and Baranof Island and can only be reached by sea or plane. It is also surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world. From the ship, we also have a view of the Sisters Mountains and the dormant volcano Mount Edgecumbe. Originally inhabited by the Tlingit over 10,000 years ago, this region was conquered by Russia in 1804 and renamed 'New Archangel'. Until 1808, it was the largest city in the region and the capital of Alaska. Today, Sitka is a place where different cultures meet. The ancient Tlingit traditions are still highly valued and have survived alongside Russian and American influences. After Russia survived the Crimean War, it sold Alaska to the United States to prevent it from falling into the hands of the British. The handover ceremony took place in 1867 in New Archangel, which was immediately renamed Sitka. Considering a price of $7.2 million for the entire region, one can call it a true bargain. In the town of Sitka, we also visit the Alaska Raptor Center, which was founded in 1980 in the backyard of two concerned Sitkans, initially with an injured bald eagle. The operation grew, and volunteers treated the eagles in their homes until they moved to a small shed on the Sheldon Jackson College campus in 1983. In 1991, the center moved to its current location on a 17-hectare site on the Indian River. On the way to Sitka, we can observe whales, a humpback whale very close to our ship, a huge experience that Richi can capture beautifully with the camera. We can also observe many seals, bald eagles, dolphins, and sea lions.