Lynn Canal, Maritime passage in Southeast Alaska, United States
Lynn Canal is a maritime passage in Southeast Alaska that runs from Chatham Strait to the Chilkat River inlets. The waterway narrows and widens along its course, bounded by steep shorelines and coastal peaks.
Captain George Vancouver named this waterway in 1794 after his birthplace King's Lynn in Norfolk, England. European explorers mapped the region during their broader expedition of the Pacific Northwest coast.
The Tlingit people have long lived along the shores of this waterway and used its waters for fishing. These communities continue to practice ways of life closely tied to the canal today.
The Alaska Marine Highway System runs regular ferry services through the waterway, linking the towns of Juneau, Haines, and Skagway. Visitors can also explore the passage by private boat or cruise ship.
The waterway plunges deeper than 600 meters (2,000 feet) and ranks among North America's deepest fjords outside of Greenland. This extreme depth was carved by ancient glacial forces that shaped the region over thousands of years.
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