Located some 35 miles south of Seward, the Chiswell Islands are a group of ruggedly beautiful rocky islands that rise vertically from the sea, with virtually no horizontal beaches at all. They form an important part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and teem with millions of nesting seabirds in summer, as well as marine animals including a rookery of the endangered Steller sea lions. Birds to be seen here include horned and tufted puffins, black-legged kittiwakes and various species of auklets including Cassin’s and whiskered auklets. The Chiswells are a picturesque examples of Alaska’s endlessly fascinating landscapes.
