Alexander Archipelago, island group off SE Alaska. The isls. are the exposed tops of the submerged coastal mts. that rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean. Deep, fjordlike channels separate the isls. and cut them off from the mainland; the N part of the Inside Passage threads its way among the isls. The largest isls. are Chichagof, Admiralty, Baranof, Wrangell, Revillagigedo, Kupreanof, Mitkoff, and Prince Of Wales. All the isls. are rugged, densely forested, and have an abundance of wildlife. The Tlingit and Haida are native to the area; the Tsimshian moved to Annette isl. from B.C. in 1887. Ketchikan (1990 pop. 8,263) on Revillagigedo isl., Sitka (1990 pop. 8,588) on Baranof isl., and Petersburg on Mitkof isl. are among the largest settlements. Lumbering, trapping, fishing, and canning are the main industries. The archipelago was explored by Russia, Britain, Spain, France, and the U.S.
