15 Fast and Fascinating Facts about the Tongass National Forest
REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE TONGASS!
Image taken from hike during our 2024 cruising season
The Tongass is the world’s largest remaining intact coastal temperate rainforest
At approximately 17 million acres, the Tongass is seven times bigger than the state of Rhode Island, and twice the size of Maryland!
The Tongass is the largest national forest in the U.S.
The Tongass has some of oldest tress in the nation—some over 800 years old!
The Tongass beholds the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world
About 60% of the Tongass is forest (trees) and 40% is rock, meadows and water
The Tongass is home to numerous species, and is a vacation area that can make for excellent wildlife viewing! (Orca, humpback whales, black and brown bears, bald eagles, otters, beavers, wolves, salmon, Dolly Varden trout and more!)
In 2001, President Clinton signed into law The Roadless Rule, protecting the Tongass from logging. The rule has been challenged three times since—and one of those challenges is currently happening. The Boat Company along with other organizations are currently fighting to keep the area protected, as we have for the past 40 years.
The Tongass has a volcano! It is a dormant one called Mount Edgecumbe.
The Tongass has hot springs you can visit if you’d like to enjoy a warm soak!
In order to protect the Tongass’ small, yet majorly popular port towns from overtourism, communities are proposing limits on major cruise companies. Lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more agreed to a daily five-ship limit in Juneau that took place in 2024. (Having two small ships that accommodate approximately 20 passengers, The Boat Company is pleased to see this positive move for the consideration of the local community!)
Home to 5 species of salmon, the Tongass produces tens of millions of salmon each year!
There are numerous glaciers in the Tongass—including tidewater glaciers (which flow into the water). Many calve daily!
The Tongass stores 8% of the total carbon in the forests of the U.S.!
The primary species of trees in the Tongass are Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, and Alaska (yellow) Cedar
BONUS:
Many flowers such as the Western Columbine, Pearly Lasting, Narcissus-Flowered Anemone, Broadleaf Arnica, Boreal Sagebrush and more are found in the Tongass.