Eastern Channel is a body of deep water adjacent to the southern half of Sitka

Sitka City and Borough, Alaska

The City and Borough of Sitka, originally called New Archangel under Russian Rule, is a unified city-borough located on Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean , in the U.S...

, Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

. It is the best suited of three channels for large ships to approach harbor in Sitka.

Sitka, being a prime cruise ship

Cruise ship

A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...

 destination, and having no deep water dock for cruise ships, allows ships to anchor in Eastern Channel and lighter the passengers into town.

Eastern Channel leads most directly to Silver Bay

Silver Bay (Alaska)

Silver Bay, or Gaǥeit, in the Tlingit language, is a deep water fjord located southeast of Sitka, Alaska, USA, that indents Baranof Island...

, but also allows access to downtown Sitka.

Eastern Channel is also the backdrop behind the stage at Harrigan Centennial Hall and the Sitka Summer Music Festival

Sitka Summer Music Festival

The Sitka Summer Music Festival is a month-long classical chamber music festival in the community of Sitka, Alaska.-About:The festival takes place in early summer during the month of June with three groupings of musicians...

.