A submerged volcanic mountain range rises out of the North Pacific to form the Aleutian Islands, a string of more than 200 islands and tiny islets in a 1,100 mile arc that curves west toward Russia and Japan form the tip of the Alaska Peninsula.

The town of Unalaska on Unalaska Island is the hub of Aleutian life. Many islands are part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and brim with seabirds and marine mammals.

Unalaska’s downtown national historic landmark and the outstanding symbol of the Russian era is the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ascension. The current wooden church topped by two blue cupolas was completed in 1895, but the fist church on this site dates back to 1825. Inside is a superb collection of hundreds of significant icons, artworks, and artefacts.