Whittier, Port city in Alaska, United States
Whittier is a port city in Alaska at the head of Passage Canal, framed by mountains and glaciers. It serves as a gateway to Prince William Sound within Chugach Census Area.
The Army built Camp Sullivan in 1943 near Whittier Glacier during World War II, adding a military port and rail link. The settlement later transitioned into a civilian harbor operating throughout the year.
The name honors American poet John Greenleaf Whittier, chosen by early military officers who built the original camp. Visitors today see the Begich Towers functioning as a vertical neighborhood where nearly everyone lives, works, and sends children to school under one roof.
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel connects the town to Anchorage and is North America's longest combined road and rail tunnel. Vehicles drive through on a timed schedule, sharing the lane with trains.
The area receives around 16 feet (5 meters) of precipitation annually, causing thick fog and frequent rain. The harbor stays ice-free year-round and holds hundreds of boats heading into Prince William Sound.
Location: Chugach Census Area
Inception: July 15, 1969
Elevation above the sea: 13 m
Website: https://whittieralaska.gov
GPS coordinates: 60.77306,-148.68389
Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:30
Alaska offers landscapes that stretch far from the cities, in areas where nature is in control. You will find glaciers coming down from the mountains, large volcanoes, sandy dunes, hot springs emerging from the ground, and waterfalls rushing down the cliffs. Each area shows how the land was shaped...
Begich Towers
149 m
Buckner Building
513 m
Portage Glacier
6 km
Begich Peak
9.6 km
Byron Peak
10.8 km
Byron Glacier
9.7 km
Explorer Glacier
12.7 km
Billings Glacier
13.5 km
Learnard Glacier
4.7 kmLawrence Glacier
14 kmBurns Glacier
6.1 kmWhittier Glacier
2.1 kmRipon Glacier
12.5 kmConcordia Glacier
8.9 kmSkookum Glacier
12.4 kmPigot Glacier
18.3 kmTebenkof Glacier
12.9 kmBlackstone Bay
7 kmWilliwaw Salmon Viewing Area
10.7 kmPortage Glacier Cruise
7.9 kmPortage Glacier Cruise
6.6 kmWork of art, sculpture
469 mPortage Overlook
3.6 kmScenic viewpoint
658 mScenic viewpoint
8.9 kmWaterfall
4.4 kmWaterfall
4.4 kmWaterfall
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