Saint Lazaria Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Sitka Sound, Alaska, US.
Saint Lazaria Wilderness is a protected seabird refuge in Sitka Sound consisting of two low peaks connected by a wave-swept saddle that rises sharply from the Pacific Ocean. The landscape features rocky cliffs and wind-carved terrain shaped by constant exposure to marine forces and challenging weather conditions.
This site was federally protected as a seabird refuge in 1909 and later designated as official wilderness in 1970 to preserve its ecological value. It became part of Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and has remained under strict protection since then.
The island carries the traditional name Kanasx'ée in the Tlingit language, reflecting indigenous knowledge of this seabird breeding site passed down through generations. Visitors today can sense how the ocean shapes every aspect of this place, from the way waves crash against the cliffs to the seasonal cycles that govern life here.
The site is accessible only by boat tours departing from Sitka, and visitors cannot land on the protected territory. Calm weather and clear visibility improve viewing conditions from the water, and spring through fall offers the best time to observe the abundant birdlife during breeding season.
The island hosts an estimated quarter-million storm-petrels during breeding season, creating one of the densest seabird colonies in the region where birds nest so closely together that their constant movement becomes visible from the water. Such extreme concentrations of nesting birds in a single small place are uncommon in North America.
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