redcedar dominate the prolific rainforest vegetation; wildlife in abundance includes brown bear, bald eagles, many species of salmon, whales, and deer. Admiralty Island is home to the highest density of brown bears in North America. An estimated 1,600 brown bears inhabit the island, outnumbering Admiralty's human residents nearly three to one. It has more brown bears than the entire lower 48 states, and one of the highest densities of bald eagles in the world. Whaling Murder Cove is located at the southernmost portion of the island and was home to the Tyee Company whaling station. Mining The Greens Creek mine is an underground silver, gold, zinc and lead mine located on the northwest end of the island, within the national monument. It began operations in 1989. Recreation Admiralty Island offers opportunities for outdoor recreation. The 32-mile Cross Admiralty Canoe Route is a popular destination for backcountry canoeing and kayaking, traversing the breadth of the island through a series of lakes, streams and trail portages, with several cabins and shelters along the way. While the modern route was laid out and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, it follows traces long used by the island's native inhabitants for hunting, fishing and trading. The Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area offers visitors the opportunity to observe brown bears in their natural habitat as they fish for salmon and interact with one another during the summer months. Permits are required for all visitors to Pack Creek; they can be obtained through the Forest Service. Lighthouse The Point Retreat Light is located on the northern tip of Admiralty and was an important aid-to-navigation. See also List of national monuments of the United States USS Gambier Bay- U.S. Navy aircraft carrier named after Gambier Bay, east of Angoon, Alaska, sunk in the Battle off Samar in October 1944 Citations General and cited sources Admiralty Island: Blocks 1000 to 1002, Census Tract 6, Juneau City and Borough; Blocks 3012 to 3018; 3022 to 3026; Block 3048; Blocks 3056 to 3069; Block 3074; Blocks 3087 and 3088; Census Tract 3, Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska United States Census Bureau Comparison of Predicted and Actual Water Quality at Hardrock Mines External links 1978 establishments in Alaska Biosphere reserves of the United States Islands of Alaska Islands of Hoonah–Angoon Census Area, Alaska Islands of Juneau, Alaska Islands of Unorganized Borough, Alaska Islands of the Alexander Archipelago National