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Togiak National Wildlife Refuge

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A 4.1-million-acre refuge in southwest Alaska.

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Alaska covers 4,102,537 acres, the fourth-largest national wildlife refuge in the United States. Established in 1980, it lies between the Ahklun Mountains and Bristol Bay, with Dillingham the nearest city.[1]

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge
Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Smith, Michael – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Public domain.
Area4,102,537 acres
Established1980
Wilderness2,274,066 acres
Mammals48 species
Birds201 species

Wildlife

The refuge has 48 mammal species, 31 on land and 17 marine, more than 150,000 caribou from the Nushagak Peninsula and Mulchatna herds, 201 bird species and more than 500 plant species. Its waters produce over 3 million salmon across five species, and 27 other fish species live there.[1]

Wilderness and rivers

The Togiak Wilderness covers 2,274,066 acres in the northern half, and parts of the Kanektok, Goodnews and Togiak drainages lie within it.[1]

Walrus Islands

The Walrus Islands lie at the entrance to Togiak Bay, about 18 km east of Hagemeister Island, and are protected by the state as the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Round Island has the largest walrus concentration in the group, with about 14,000 male walruses observed hauled out on a single day. A permit is required to visit Round Island [2].

Landmark designations

The National Park Service designated the Walrus Islands a National Natural Landmark in 1968. On December 23, 2016, the islands were added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark District as the Walrus Islands Archeological District [2].

Scope of this page

The Wikipedia page on the Walrus Islands does not mention the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge itself, so this section covers only the nearby island group [2].

FAQs

How large is Togiak? 4,102,537 acres.

What is the nearest city? Dillingham.

How many bird species? 201.

Where are the Walrus Islands? At the entrance to Togiak Bay in southwestern Alaska [2].

Do you need a permit for Round Island? Yes [2].

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Togiak National Wildlife Refuge
  2. Wikipedia: Walrus Islands

Key facts

  • 4.1 million acres
  • 150,000 caribou
  • 3 million salmon
Quick checkRank?Show answer

Fourth largest national wildlife refuge.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia. Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
  2. Wikipedia. Walrus Islands. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-14)

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue