“The name Alaska is probably an abbreviation of Unalaska, derived from the original Aleut word agunalaksh, which means "the shores where the sea breaks its back." The war between water and land is never-ending. Waves shatter themselves in spent fury against the rocky bulwarks of the coast; giant tides eat away the sand beaches and alter the entire contour of an island overnight; williwaw winds pour down the side of a volcano like snow sliding off a roof, building to a hundred-mile velocity in a matter of minutes and churning the ocean into a maelstrom where the stoutest vessels founder.”
Quote by Corey Ford
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Where the Sea Breaks Its Back: The Epic Story - Georg Steller & the Russian Exploration of AK
'Where the Sea Breaks Its Back: The Epic Story - Georg Steller & the Russian Exploration of AK' is a comprehensive account of the 1741 Russian expedition led by Vitus Bering and accompanied by naturalist Georg Steller. The book chronicles the journey through the Bering Strait and the subsequent exploration of Alaska. It highlights Steller's contributions to natural history and the scientific discoveries made during the voyage, including the first detailed descriptions of the Alaskan coastline and its wildlife. The narrative also delves into the challenges faced by the expedition members and the cultural encounters with indigenous peoples. more