Geographic Harbor lies the head of Amalik Bay on the southern coast of Alaska opposite Kodiak island. From here you can view the towering volcanoes and beautiful blue-green glacial lakes of the almost roadless Katmai National Park and see the volcanic ash that lies on the rugged slopes and beaches. In 1912 Mt Katmai was the site one of the greatest volcanic eruptions in human history covering an area of 40 square miles with hot ash to depths of 700 ft. The bay was named after the National Geographic Society's first exploration of this previously uncharted area in 1919 when they discovered the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes - then completely filled with ash and featuring thousands of smoking fumaroles. This is one of the best places in Alaska for observing bears as it has a significant brown (grizzly) bear population.