{{Short description|Fjord in the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, U.S.}} {{about||the 2015 novel Emma Viskic|Resurrection Bay (novel)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Resurrection Bay | image = [[File:ResurrectionBay Alaska.jpg|250px]] | caption = Sailboats on Resurrection Bay | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | pushpin_map = Alaska | location = [[Kenai Peninsula]], [[Alaska]] | coords = {{coord|59.970|N|149.381|W|display=inline,title|type:waterbody_region:US-AK_dim:50000_source:dewiki}} | inflow = [[Resurrection River]], [[Fourth of July Creek (Kenai Peninsula, Alaska)|Fourth of July Creek]], [[Likes Creek]] | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = United States | length = {{convert|18|mi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofseward.us/DocumentCenter/View/392 |title=Plan report|date=2017 |website=www.cityofseward.us}}</ref> | width = {{convert|5|mi|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|500|ft|abbr=on}} | max-depth = {{convert|972|ft|abbr=on}} | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | frozen = Never | islands = [[Fox Island (Alaska)|Fox Island]], [[Rugged Island (Alaska)|Rugged Island]], Hat Island, Hive Island, Barwell Island, Cheval Island | sections = [[Derby Cove]], [[Thumb Cove]], [[Humpy Cove]], Halibut Cove, Sunny Cove, [[Bulldog Cove]], Mary's Bay, Porcupine Cove, Agnes Cove, [[Pony Cove]] | cities = [[Seward, Alaska|Seward]], [[Lowell Point, Alaska|Lowell Point]] }}
[[File:Millers landing.JPG|thumb|View of Resurrection Bay from Miller's Landing]] '''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, Alaska|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|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 {{convert|650|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alaskarails.org/route-map/seward.html|title=Route Map: Seward|first=John P.|last=Combs|website=www.alaskarails.org|accessdate=16 February 2018}}</ref>
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]].
==Geography== Resurrection Bay has a maximum depth of {{convert|972|ft|m}}, near the coast at Caines Head.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topozone.com/alaska/kenai-peninsula-ak/bay/resurrection-bay/|title=Resurrection Bay Topo Map, Kenai Peninsula County AK (Blying Sound D-7 Area)|publisher=|accessdate=16 February 2018}}</ref> It contains many deep coves, most notably [[Thumb Cove|Thumb]], [[Humpy Cove|Humpy]], [[Bulldog Cove|Bulldog]], [[Pony Cove|Pony]] and [[Derby Cove|Derby]] Coves. To the west, Resurrection Bay is bordered by the [[Aialik Peninsula]] and the adjacent [[Aialik Bay]]. To the east, the bay is bounded by the [[Resurrection Peninsula]] and [[Day Harbor]].
==Parks== Several parks are located in and around the bay. [[Kenai Fjords National Park]] is primarily accessed by boat from Seward. [[Caines Head State Recreation Area]] is here. Many visit it by boat, but there is a trail from '''Lowell Point State Recreation Site''', a {{convert|19|acre|adj=on}} park with beach access and trailhead parking. Parts of the trail between the two parks are only accessible at low tide, so visitors must plan accordingly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kenai/lowellptsrs.htm|title=Lowell Point State Recreation Site|website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref> '''Sandspit Point State Marine Park''' is a {{convert|1,135|acres|adj=on}} undeveloped park, popular with kayakers, with beach camping and [[tidepooling]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/marinepark/sandspitsmp.htm|title=Sandspit Point State Marine Park|website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref> '''Sunny Cove State Marine Park''' is a {{convert|960|acre|adj=on}} park on [[Fox Island (Alaska)|Fox Island]]. It is also undeveloped and has no source of fresh water. The park consists of a beach area used for camping and landing of small boats, and steep, rocky cliffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/marinepark/sunnycove|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916060149/http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/marinepark/sunnycove|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 16, 2017|title=Sunny Cove State Marine Park|website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref> '''Thumb Cove State Marine Park''' is one of the few developed parks in the area, featuring offshore mooring buoys for small boats, beach camping, and two public-use cabins. Visitors can view Porcupine Glacier, Spoon Glacier, and Prospect Glacier from the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kenai/thumbcvsmp.htm|title=Thumb Cove State Marine Park|website=dnr.alaska.gov}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commonscatinline}}
{{Seward, Alaska}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Bays of Alaska]] [[Category:Bodies of water of Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska]] [[Category:Seward, Alaska]] [[Category:Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area]]