The Alaska Penisula Refuge spans 340 miles in the southwestern part of the state and encompasses about 3.5 million acres. The dominant feature is the rugged Aleutian Range which is part of the chain of volcanoes known as the "Ring of Fire" that rims the Pacific Ocean. Eight major volcanoes, including five that are active, are inside the refuge.
Brown bears, moose, caribou and wolves inhabit refuge lands and marine mammals are abundant in nearshore waters. The large coastal brown bears are attracted to the productive salmon streams during salmon spawning runs in the summer. The refuge provides habitat for thousands of ducks, geese, swans and other migratory birds. Refuge rivers, streams and lakes support large runs of all five species of Pacific salmon, contributing to the enormous commercial salmon fishery in Bristol Bay. Arctic char and grayling are also common. There are no roads in the refuge. Visitors reach refuge lands primarily by plane and boat.