Southwest Alaska
Bethel - The largest community in Southwest Alaska and located inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Bethel is home to the mid-distance sled dog race Kusko 300. With heavy Russian Orthodox influence in the area, Bethel at its original location, was a Yup'ik village called Mamterillermiut, meaning "Smokehouse People", after the nearby fish smokehouse. River travel is the primary means of transportation in the summer and its 16 miles of road are not connected to any contiguous highway system.
Bethel Info
City of Bethel
Dillingham - Dillingham is located at the extreme northern end of Nushagak Bay in northern Bristol Bay, at the confluence of the Wood and Nushagak Rivers. The area around Dillingham was inhabited by both Eskimos and Athabascans and became a trade center when Russians erected the Alexandrovski Redoubt in 1818. Local Native groups and Natives from the Kuskokwim Region, the Alaska Peninsula and Cook Inlet meld together as they came to visit or live at the post. The community was known as Nushagak by 1837 when a Russian Orthodox mission was established. It is the economic, transportation, and public service center for western Bristol Bay. Commercial fishing, fish processing, cold storage and support of the fishing industry are the primary activities.
City of Dillingham
Dillingham Chamber of Commerce
Interests
Dutch Harbor - A small city on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian chain, Dutch Harbor lies within the city limits of Unalaska and is connected to Unalaska by bridge. In 1768, Unalaska became a Russian trading port for the fur seal industry. In 1880 after the Alaska purchase, the Methodist Church opened a school and a clinic for orphans in Unalaska. On June 3, 1942 during World War II, Unalaska was attacked by the Japanese. Almost all of the native residents of the island were sent to Southeast alaska for the duration of the war. The Port of Dutch Harbor has a thriving fishing port, and crabbing and commercial fishing play a vital role in the area's economy.
City of Unalaska
Unalaska Convention and Visitors Bureau
Kodiak - Situated on the largest island in the United States, Kodiak is often referred to as Alaska's "Emerald Isle". With a maritime climate, Kodiak is known for its rain. This creates lush green during the summer months. Winter temperatures are moderate. While snow storms and freezing temperatures are not uncommon, neither are warm, above-freezing temperatures with rain. Kodiak has a rich Alutiiq culture and the areas primarily economic driver is the commercial fishing industry.