The more than 200 Aleutian Islands stretch westward for 1,200 miles from the southwest corner of mainland Alaska. Attu is the farthest island from the Alaska mainland and Unimak the closest. Separating the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea, these volcanic islands, at first glance, may seem barren and desolate. Upon closer inspection, however, you will find an abundance of life and breathtaking beauty. Virtually treeless, a variety of grasses, wildflowers, and berries grow in this region. The vivid colors are often a surprising find in this gray and foggy environment. The delicate nature of some of these plants seems to belie the harsh environment in which they thrive.

The islands themselves are alive, as most are considered active volcanoes, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Not all of the eruptions are dramatic or devastating, but they do serve as a constant reminder of the untold and unpredictable forces of nature that have shaped this unique and awe-inspiring place.

Of course, the presence of humans has also done much to change life on these islands. First inhabited by the Unangans, as many as 20,000 people lived throughout the chain. With first contact, the culture would soon change. When the second Kamchatka Expedition returned to Russia with thousands of sea otter pelts, a directive was given to return and commence fur harvest and trade, forever changing the balance of nature and cultural composition on these islands.

In 1942 the Aleutian island of Attu gained the distinction of being the only location where World War II was fought on U.S. soil.

Today, the communities of the Aleutian Islands have carved out an important niche in the U.S. and international economy while preserving and sharing the traditional ways of the past.