Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska.
Homeland of the Unangax̂ peoples, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula between the highly productive waters of the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. At the heart of a landscape sculpted by volcanism, glaciation, and marine deposition is Izembek Lagoon, one of the world's largest eelgrass beds. The huge lagoon serves as a resting and feeding area for hundreds of thousands of waterfowl. Virtually the entire population of Pacific black brant, tens of thousands of Taverner's Canada goose, and emperor goose inhabit the lagoon each fall. Thousands of threatened Steller's eiders also molt, rest, and feed at Izembek each autumn.
Izembek Lagoon and its associated state-owned tidal lands have been protected by the State of Alaska since 1960 as the Izembek State Game Refuge. Most of the refuge was designated as Wilderness in 1980 under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. This diverse wilderness protects a wide variety of fish and wildlife species including coastal brown bears, all five species of salmon, and the Southern Alaska Peninsula Caribou Herd.
In addition to the Lagoon, the most prominent landforms in the refuge include Pavlof Volcano (Pavlof Unit), the heavily-glaciated Shishaldin Volcano (Unimak Island), Frosty Peak and the jagged spires of the Aghileen Pinnacles.
Refuge Headquarters is located in Cold Bay, Alaska approximately one-half mile northeast of the airport terminal. There is limited vehicle access to the refuge itself via five primary gravel or dirt roads, totaling about 40 miles (portions of these require 4-wheel drive). Aircraft or boats are required for access elsewhere within the refuge. For example, Izembek Lagoon can reached from the community of Cold Bay by road through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, and is also accessed by wheel-planes landing on unimproved beaches, and by boat. Off-airport air taxi operators and boat charters are limited. Contact the refuge for the latest information.