Resurrection Bay

Resurrection Bay
Sailboats on Resurrection Bay
Resurrection Bay
Location	Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Coordinates	59°58′12″N 149°22′52″W / 59.970°N 149.381°W / 59.970; -149.381
Primary inflows	Resurrection River, Fourth of July Creek, Likes Creek
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	18 mi (29 km)[1]
Max. width	5 mi (8.0 km)
Average depth	500 ft (150 m)
Max. depth	972 ft (296 m)
Frozen	Never
Islands	Fox Island, Rugged Island, Hat Island, Hive Island, Barwell Island, Cheval Island
Sections/sub-basins	Derby Cove, Thumb Cove, Humpy Cove, Halibut Cove, Sunny Cove, Bulldog Cove, Mary's Bay, Porcupine Cove, Agnes Cove, Pony Cove
Settlements	Seward, Lowell Point

Resurrection Bay, also known as Blying Sound, and Harding Gateway in its outer reaches, is a fjord on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, United States. Its main settlement is Seward, located at the head of the bay. The bay received its name from Alexandr Baranov, who was forced to retreat into the bay during a bad storm in the Gulf of Alaska. When the storm settled it was Easter Sunday, so the bay and nearby Resurrection River were named in honor of it. Harding Gateway refers to the passage between Rugged and Cheval Islands.

Resurrection Bay is the location of Caines Head, at the summit of which Fort McGilvray is situated 650 feet (200 meters) above sea level. This fortification was constructed by the United States Armed Forces to defend against a possible invasion by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The bay remains ice-free even in winter, making it easily navigable.^[2]

It is called the "gateway to the Kenai Fjords" as many water taxis, kayak tours, anglers, and recreational boaters use the bay to access nearby Kenai Fjords National Park.