Dutch Harbor

Dutch Harbor is the second largest island in the Aleutian Chain and is about 800 miles southwest of Anchorage. In the 1700's Dutch Harbor or Unalaska (as referred to by Russia) was the Russian-American Company's headquarters for the sea otter fur trade. As the use of the islands increased, it later became a sea port heading to the goldfields.

In June 1942, the Japanese bombed the naval air base at Dutch Harbor while killing most of the Aleut population. The Japanese then invaded the Aleutian islands of Attu and Kiska. In May 1943, American troops landed on the island of Attu and defeated the Japanese in a battle. As a result, 1,148 Americans lost their lives. A memorial to those killed in the war is now located in Memorial Park near the cemetery.

Dutch Harbor is also in a prime location to receive the great winds of the Pacific Ocean. The island often gets severe wind gusts. It is referred to as "Cradle of the Storms". Here the warm air over the Japanese current meets the cold air and cold water currents of the Bering Sea. As result, an annual rainfall of 60.5 inches is created. The city also remains unfrozen throughout the year thus making it one of the most successful and productive seafood processing ports in the country.

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