Kachemak Bay: A History.

Kachemak Bay is home to one of the most diverse marine populations in the entire world. Located on the Kenai Peninsula, in Alaska, it attracts attention from all over the world. Home to one of the biggest tides in the world, with often 30 feet moving up and down twice a day, the landscape is rugged and takes beautiful shape. Millions of years ago, a giant glacier tore through Alaska, creating this 576 foot deep behemoth of a bay, and paved the way for millions of people to enjoy this beautiful part of the world. Ocean temperatures reach at the highest 50 degrees, making it possible for many arctic creatures to thrive year round. Surrounding the bay is the Kenai Mountains, which host a whopping 38 glaciers. These glaciers are fed by the massive Harding Icefield, which is 700 square miles. About 10,000 years ago, Native Alaskans started living on the shores of Kachemak Bay, and they arrived on kayaks and umiaks. The marine species created a haven for fishing and surviving on the land. Halibut, Salmon, Rockfish, and many other species are very readily available in kachemak bay, and early settlers would have fished for these, alongside hunting bears, otters, foxes, and bird species to eat and use the fur for warmth. These early Indigenous settlers were disrupted, when in the early 1700’s russian travelers began to settle the land. The russian settlers decimated the sea otter populations, and their pelts were sent back to Russia to be made into clothing. Gold and Coal was also mined around the bay at this time, and havok was reaped among the land. In the late 1800’s, Kachemak Bay became more populated with American people looking for gold, but the gold was all gone, and communities were built instead, such as Homer, Seldovia, and Anchor Point.

In Alaska’s history at this point, many Indigenous peoples were sent to schools to become more Americanized, where they weren’t allowed to speak their language, wear their clothing, or sing their traditional songs. This took place in Kachemak Bay and all across Alaska, even up until the Late 1900’s. The mistreatment of Native Alaskans still exists today in Kachemak Bay, but there is work being done to bridge the tensions and bring justice to the Indigenous Alaskan peoples. Today, Kachemak Bay’s rich history brings in people from all around the world to fish, hike, bike, study, and wildlife watch. Homer is known as “The Halibut Fishing Capital of the World,” and attracts fishermen and tourists from around the world. Scientists from all over the world study the marine species in the bay, along with species of whales, orcas, sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, and many others. The summer tourism in the Kachemak Bay area brings the surrounding towns the funds to run year round. Kachemak Bay has a rich history and beauty, and it’s worth visiting at least once in someone’s lifetime. Due to global warming and ocean acidification, the bay and surrounding area may change drastically over the course of our lives, so it’s worth seeing this majestic place while it still exists as it does today.