Which gulf in the North Pacific Ocean borders the southern coast of Alaska?

The Gulf of Alaska is the North Pacific gulf that borders the southern coast of Alaska. It curves along Alaska’s shoreline from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west toward Cape Spencer in the east.

The gulf’s coast combines rugged mountains, temperate rainforests, fjords and tidewater glaciers. Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet are two of its best-known connected waterways, while the Malaspina and Bering glaciers reach the gulf’s coastal margin. The region’s deep, nutrient-rich waters support highly productive marine ecosystems and major fisheries.

The Gulf of Alaska is also a powerful storm generator. Winter storms can bring heavy snow and ice to southern Alaska, while some systems travel south along the coasts of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. It is sometimes confused with the Gulf of California, which lies much farther south between Baja California and mainland Mexico.