Lituya Bay

Lituya Bay cuts into the mountainous coast of southeastern Alaska, forming a deep inlet with a narrow entrance exposed to strong tidal movement. Forested slopes and nearby glaciers create an imposing setting, while fish and other marine resources supported Indigenous use of the wider coast. Safe entry depended on knowledge of currents and conditions, since the appearance of sheltered water inside did not guarantee an easy passage through the entrance.

The bay belongs to the Tlingit coastal world, whose communities travelled and traded using detailed maritime knowledge. In 1786 the French expedition led by La Pérouse visited Lituya Bay; men were lost in its dangerous entrance. Growing commercial interest in the northern Pacific, especially the maritime fur trade, brought further contact along the surrounding coast.