Home of Xunaa Káawu

East Xunaa is our northernmost island province, including most of Chichagof as well as Táas’ Daa, double-headed tide around it (Lemesurier) and Wunachích, back of porpoise (Pleasant Island). Geologically, almost all of the province lies within the Alexander Terrane, which, farther to the southeast, contains the famous caves and (vanished) giant trees of northern Tàan, sea lion (Prince of Wales). As on Tàan, carbonate rocks are common in East Xunaa Province, with high-quality karst scattered primarily throughout the eastern portion. The western province is predominantly granitic with thinner soils and less productive forest, so logging has concentrated around Hoonah.

Bedrock and surficial geology of the Hoonah area, on IfSAR-generated bare earth.

Tree size and logging in East Xunaa Province. Logging (pink) has concentrated on the eastern portion where limey parent material supported more large-tree forest (dark green).

In this section

Roads of ‘Northeast Chich’

Slideshows: Xunaa Káawu Each summer, I try to get over to Hoonah to help my wife Cathy with her research…

2021: 2019 | Richard Carstensen | Slideshows, 8- & 4 minutes

Roads of Xunaa Káawu

Impacts and opportunities: logging roads of Northeast Chichagof Visits to Hoonah rank among the highlights of my year. Especially so…

False Island journal 20080806

Four years into the Ground-truthing Project, Bob Christensen and I helped explore northern Shee Ká, above Shee (Peril Strait). This…

2008 | Richard Carstensen | 70 pages

Hammered gems & unproductive leftovers.

In 2008, Bob Christensen and I were 3 years into the Ground-truthing Project. During those 3 years, the Forest Service…

2008 | Carstensen & Christensen | 30 pages

Ground-truthing Project final report, 2005

The Ground-truthing Project, sponsored by Sitka Conservation Society, ran from 2005 to 2010. Kenyon Fields at SCS administered the program,…

2005 | Carstensen & Christensen | 63 pages

2008 flight over Sitka use area

In September, 2008, I ferried to Sitka to help Sitka Conservation Society host funders and biologists. In a Beaver, we…

2008 | Richard Carstensen | 29 pages