Bogoslof, an active volcanic island, altered as recently as 1993. Today a single rugged spire, Castle Rock, stands above rocky beaches and black lava. Seabirds still nest here, as many as 90,000 murres, kittiwakes, puffins and gulls. A rookery of fur seals has been increasing in size while a sea lion rookery that peaked with about 5,000 individuals has been shrinking. North of Unalaska Island, Bogoslof is difficult to access and rarely seen except over the gunwales of passing fishing boats.
Winds blow almost constantly during cool foggy summers and mild foggy winters.
Although the Bering Sea does not freeze here, storms come often and stay long, violently sending wind and waves against the barren shoreline. The few boats that do arrive find no anchorages, coming only at risk and with special permission of the refuge manager for specific scientific or educational purposes. Off the coast of southwestern Alaska. Unalaska, AK, is the nearest village, about 800 air miles from Anchorage. Click here to find out how.