Tongass Narrows facts for kids
Tongass Narrows is a Y-shaped water channel in Southeast Alaska. It's part of the famous Inside Passage, a route used by many ships. This important waterway is like a busy highway for boats. You'll see all kinds of vessels here. These include fishing boats, ferries, kayaks, and large cargo ships.
There was once a plan to build a bridge across the Tongass Narrows. It was called the Gravina Island Bridge. However, this plan caused a big discussion across the country. People called it the "bridge to nowhere" because of its high cost. So, the bridge was never built.
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Where is Tongass Narrows?
Tongass Narrows is a body of water that stretches from the Revillagigedo Channel to Gravina Island. It has a unique "Y" shape. This shape is created because Pennock Island splits the channel into two parts.
At its northern end, you'll find Clarence Strait. To the southeast, it reaches from Nichols Passage to Guard Island. The eastern side of the narrows is next to Revillagigedo Island. The western side is bordered by Gravina Island.
The cities of Saxman and Ketchikan are located on the eastern side. Ketchikan International Airport is on Gravina Island. The channel flows mostly northwest for about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers).
In some narrow spots, the channel is only about 0.125 miles (200 meters) wide. The water in the middle is quite deep, ranging from 27 to 48 meters (15 to 26 fathoms). The northern shore of Tongass Narrows is steep and covered with thick forests. The southern shores are flatter and also wooded.
Tongass Narrows is an important part of the Alaska Marine Highway system. Many different kinds of boats use this channel every day. These include boats for fishing, fun, and carrying goods. You will also see many floatplanes landing and taking off. This is because Ketchikan is a main hub for air travel to smaller, isolated communities.
The rocks around Ketchikan and Gravina Island are made of a type of "green stone schist". This rock formed a very long time ago, in the Paleozoic era.
Animals of Tongass Narrows
The waters of Tongass Narrows are home to many marine animals. You might spot large numbers of whales and sea lions swimming here. Herring are also found in great numbers, and salmon fishing is popular near Ketchikan. Sometimes, black bears are seen looking for food in the town's garbage bins.
The "Bridge to Nowhere" Idea
The Gravina Island Bridge was a plan to build a highway bridge. It would have connected Revillagigedo Island to Gravina Island. This project became very controversial. Many people called it the "bridge to nowhere." They were concerned about its high proposed cost of $320 million. The bridge was meant to replace a ferry that connects Ketchikan to its main airport. However, because of the controversy, the bridge was never built.
Fun Events on the Narrows
The Ketchikan Yacht Club hosts several fun events on the Tongass Narrows. Every Wednesday night in the summer, they hold sailboat regattas. There are also special races on some weekends.
Other popular events include the Christmas Boat Parade. Another exciting event is the Pennock Island Swim, also known as The Pennock Island Challenge. During fireworks displays, a special safe zone is set up for the barge.
