Behm Canal is a natural waterway (an inlet or channel) located in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It extends from the eastern end of the Lynn Canal, near the town of Ketchikan, and runs generally north‑south for approximately 115 kilometers (71 miles) before reaching the mainland of the Alexander Archipelago near the community of Craig. The canal forms part of a complex network of fjords, channels, and islands that characterizes the Inside Passage.
Geography
- Location: Southeast Alaska, within the Wrangell‑St. Elias National Forest and the Tongass National Forest.
- Coordinates: roughly between 55°30′ N to 56°30′ N latitude and 132°30′ W to 133°30′ W longitude.
- Dimensions: length of about 115 km (71 mi); width varies from a few hundred meters in narrow passages to several kilometers in broader sections.
- Surrounding features: The canal is bounded to the west by the Revillagigedo Island and to the east by the mainland and the Prince of Wales Island. Notable adjoining bodies of water include the Lynn Canal to the south and the Koonk River inlet to the north.
Naming and History
The canal was named in 1792 by the Russian explorer and trader Yuri (George) Lisyansky during the period of Russian America. It honors the German cartographer and navigator Bartholomäus (Balthazar) Behm, who contributed to early mapping of the Alaskan coast under Russian sponsorship. The name was later retained by the United States after the Alaska Purchase of 1867.
Human Use and Access
- Transportation: Behm Canal is an important route for commercial and recreational vessels navigating the Inside Passage, including ferries, cargo ships, and cruise liners. The passage provides sheltered waters compared to the open Pacific Ocean.
- Local communities: The canal’s shoreline hosts several small settlements, most notably the community of Craig, which serves as a hub for fishing, tourism, and logging activities.
- Recreation: The area is popular for sport fishing (salmon, halibut), kayaking, wildlife viewing, and eco‑tourism, taking advantage of the region’s rich marine and avian life.
Ecology
- Marine life: The cold, nutrient‑rich waters support diverse marine species, including Pacific salmon (Chinook, Coho, Sockeye), halibut, cod, and a variety of shellfish.
- Birds: Coastal and seabird colonies, such as those of bald eagles, black oystercatchers, and murre, are common along the cliffs and islands.
- Terrestrial environment: The surrounding temperate rainforest features Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar, providing habitat for black bears, moose, and the endemic black‑tailed deer.
Conservation
Portions of the Behm Canal coastline lie within federally protected lands, including the Tongass National Forest, which imposes regulations to balance resource extraction with habitat preservation. Environmental monitoring programs assess water quality, fish populations, and the impacts of commercial shipping.
References
- United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) entry for “Behm Canal.”
- Alaska Department of Natural Resources, “Coastal Waterway Maps – Southeast Alaska.”
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “Alaska Marine Ecosystem Overview.”
- Historical records of Russian America, Russian Hydrographic Office archives.
