Baranof Warm Springs, Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baranof Warm Springs
Sitka
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Populated Place
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Baranof Warm Springs and the rapids from Baranof Lake's outlet.
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 Baranof Warm Springs, Alaska
Location in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Sitka City and Borough |
| Elevation | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-8 (AKDT) |
| ZIP code |
99835
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| Area code | 907 |
| FIPS code | 02-05090 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1420227 |
Baranof Warm Springs is a tiny community in Alaska. It's on the eastern side of Baranof Island, which is part of the Alexander Archipelago. People mostly live here during certain seasons, like summer. Sometimes, it's just called Baranof. It's famous for its natural warm springs.
Contents
Where is Baranof Warm Springs?
Baranof Warm Springs is located on Warm Springs Bay. This bay is just off Chatham Strait. About half a mile from the community is Baranof Lake. This is a large freshwater lake fed by glaciers.
The lake gets its water from small streams and the Baranof River. Between Baranof Lake and Warm Springs Bay, there are many rapids and waterfalls. These waters are very dangerous to travel through.
The area around Baranof Warm Springs has special rocks. These rocks are part of a large formation called a batholith. This rock formation is about 34 miles (55 km) long.
Life in the Community
Baranof Warm Springs is a very small place. Only a few people live there all year round. More visitors come during the summer months. There are about 15 homes that people use only in certain seasons.
The community is part of the City and Borough of Sitka. The city helps by keeping a boardwalk in good shape. This boardwalk is the main path for getting around. The city also maintains the dock for boats.
Property owners in the community work together. They pay for a caretaker during the winter. This person looks after the homes and public areas. These areas include a picnic shelter and a public bathhouse. The bathhouse has three separate tubs. There are also shared warm springs pools.
The Baranof Wilderness Lodge and Resort also has its own caretaker. This person works from October to May.
A Look at History
The Tlingit people from Angoon used Baranof Warm Springs often. People from other parts of the world found the springs in 1891. The community even had a post office for a few years. It was open from 1907 to 1912. Back then, the name was spelled Baranoff.
How to Get There
Baranof Warm Springs can be reached by floatplane. There are regular flights from Sitka, Alaska. The flight across the island takes about 30 minutes on a clear day. If it's cloudy, it can take an hour.
There are no roads in Baranof Warm Springs. The boardwalk is the main way to get around. You cannot use ATVs on the boardwalk.
Things to Do and See
The main reason people visit is for the warm springs. There are nine different hot springs. Their temperatures range from lukewarm to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). One spring is left in its natural state. It's right next to the fast-moving Baranof River.
The community built a public bathhouse near the water. This gives visitors another option for bathing. They can use the bathhouse instead of hiking to the natural springs.
Small tour boats often visit in the summer. Fishermen and workers from the Hidden Falls Hatchery also come here. On the north end of Baranof Lake, there is a Forest Service cabin. It's a popular spot, but you can only reach it by boat or floatplane. The land is too steep to hike.
Baranof Warm Springs is also home to a research center. It's called the Coastal Research and Education Center. The Alaska Whale Foundation runs this center during certain seasons.
