About Homer, Alaska
Anchor Point Area Facts:
Anchor Point, Alaska is the most westerly point of the American Highway System. According to Wikipedia and local lore, the name Anchor Point comes from a legend that when James Cook discovered the area, he lost a large anchor to the areas drastic tides, the location was allegedly marked as Anchor Point. The tides can be as high as a 28 ft. vertical difference. “This tidal phenomena exists because the Bay has a few distinct features: a substantial amount of water and a unique shape and size that causes “resonance”.” according to the Geo Catching Website, this holds true for Cook Inlet as well, the unique natural funnel like shape, causes extreme low and high tides.
The first settlers arrived in the late 1890’s looking for gold on the beach and river. Post WWII era brought a hardy group of missionaries and settlers who began raising crops and livestock, lured by the promise and opportunity of homesteading.
The current local population is around 2,000 people. The Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1960, and still continues representing local fishermen, charter companies, lodging, tackle shops, graphic design companies, food service, real estate and more.
The wildlife in the area is plentiful. The Anchor River made famous for the King and Silver salmon runs, is an amazing place for watching wildlife. The area is full of moose, mink, bald eagles, a variety of ducks along the river, harbor seals, sea otters, and beluga whales near shore in the Cook Inlet. There is an astounding variety of wildflowers also, they vary as the summer move steadily towards fall. In May and early June, the Lupine is plentiful as well as the famous Alaskan State Flower – Forget-Me-Nots, and of course Dandelions. July brings the first buds and signs of fall, with the lovely Fireweed beginning to bloom, and tall as can be.
Across the Cook Inlet from Anchor Point, three of seven volcanoes bordering the inlet can be seen— Mount Augustine South, Mount Iliamna, and Mount Redoubt. Mount Augustine’s last eruption ended in March 2006; Mount Redoubt’s latest eruption ended around July 2009. No eruption of Mount Iliamna has ever been recorded. Occasionally you can glimpse the other 4 smaller peaks in the far distance.
The photo on the right is a rare glimpse of 6 of the 7 volcanoes visible from Anchor Point, courtesy of LaLena York.
