For the next couple of days we spent time in the downtown area. Resurrection Bay which was carved out by millions of years of glacier activity, is now a deep fjord that extends nearly 35 miles north and south on the southeastern coast of the Kenai Peninsula.
As we walked around we saw some beautiful houses with breath taking views of Resurrection Bay and Mount Marathon. On the 4th of July each year runner race up this mountain then hurtle themselves down the rocky slopes at high speeds only to reach the bottom muddy, bruised, bleeding, and exhausted. Behind this house is Mt Marathon.
Seward might be at the end of the highway system but its not the end of the road. As we drove further south we came across Lowell Creek Waterfalls. When the original townsite of Seward was established in 1903, Lowell Creek ran down beside Jefferson Street. From the beginning severe flash floods would occur one to three times per year. During these times large quantities of debris, in varying sizes from gravel to large boulders would be carried down Jefferson Street. The Flood Control Project was completed in 1937. The project consisted of three parts: The Diversion Dam; The Tunnel; and The Outlet. This waterfall is that outlet which drains into the Bay.
Continuing further down the very narrow road, I found myself hugging the base of a mountain on one side and on the other is the Bay. Its all worth it because we arrived at Lowell Point, a beautiful recreation area.
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| A great house at Lowell Point overlooking Resurrection Bay |
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| Another view of Resurrection Bay and the mountains |
The Iditarod Trail began as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. In the winter of 1925, a deadly outbreak of diphtheria threatened Nome's residents. Winter ice closed the port city from the outside world. Serum from Anchorage was rushed by train to Nenana and then picked up by sled dog relay. Alaska's best mushers carried the serum 674 miles to Nome in less than 5 1/2 days. The Iditarod Trail is now a National Historic Trail, and is called the “Last Great Race on Earth.” Each year, an extremely competitive dogsled race takes place of more than 1150 miles from Anchorage to Nome. The route has changed over the years due to lack of snow, the distances have also changed.
Our last experience in Seward is the Alaska Sealife Center which overlooks Resurrection Bay. Opened in 1998 the $56 million 115,000 square foot facility was built as part of the settlement of 1989's Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and public aquarium. It's also Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehab unit. They rescue stranded and injured seals, sea lions, sea otters, and sea birds. Seward was a major rehab site during the oil spill.
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| Tufted Puffin |
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| Red-legged Kittiwake |
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| Horned Puffin |
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