Tongass Forest facts

Did You Know?

Two-thirds of the 17-million acre Tongass National Forest is rock, ice, muskeg and scrub forest.

The remaining one third is considered commercial forest land.

Only 4 percent of the Tongass National Forest contains the largest most productive old-growth forest, the biological heart of the Tongass.

20" to 200" of rain falls annually, depending on the location.

The Tongass contains the largest concentration of dissolution caves in the state of Alaska.

Miles of coastline: 15,000

Acres of land: over 19 million

Acres of old-growth forest: 5 million

Years it takes for a clear-cut forest to return to an old-growth forest: 200 years

If you go to the Tongass, be sure and visit...

Misty Fjords
Located in the southernmost region of Alaska, Misty Fjords is 3,570 square miles of remote wilderness. Misty Fjords is famous for being an amazing geological feature, as well as for the size and number of fish found in its streams. All of the many ecosystems that exist in southeast Alaska are present in Misty Fjords. Very few other locations in the United States have as many rare, diverse species of wildlife. Misty Fjords is like nowhere else on Earth.

Admiralty Island
Admiralty Island National Monument is 955,000 acres of some of the most impressive wilderness in southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest. Admiralty Island is significant to scientists due to the fact that life and the relationships living on the island are scientifically sound and truly amazing. Admiralty Island supports one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world and has an estimated density of one bear per square mile.

Rainforest facts provided by: Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and Gastineau Guiding Juneau's Premier Hiking Company.