Dutch Harbor Unalaska

Dutch Harbor is the port side of Unalaska, a town of about 4,000 people on two islands in the Aleutian chain. It is one of the busiest fishing ports in the United States by catch weight, and the crab boats from the television series Deadliest Catch work out of here. The Church of the Holy Ascension, finished in 1896, is the oldest cruciform Russian Orthodox church in North America and still holds services. The Museum of the Aleutians on Margaret Bay covers thousands of years of Unangax life, including the forced evacuation of the islanders during World War II. Japanese aircraft bombed Dutch Harbor in June 1942, and the Aleutian World War II visitor centre near the airport tells that story. Bunkers and gun emplacements still sit on Mount Ballyhoo above town. Bald eagles are everywhere, perched on lamp posts and fishing gear. King crab and halibut are the local catch. The US dollar is the currency, and the weather changes fast, so bring a waterproof layer.