The islands have irregular, steep coasts and dense evergreen and temperate rain forests; most are accessible only by boat or by airplane.

The Tsimshian people found on Annette Island are not originally from the area, having immigrated to the region from British Columbia in the late 19th century.

The most populous neighborhoods of the largest town in the region, Juneau, stand on the mainland, though portions of the city also lie on Douglas Island, which is a part of the archipelago.

[1] In 1774 Juan José Pérez Hernández sighted the south coast of Dall Island,[2] while Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra entered Bucareli Bay off Prince of Wales Island the following year.

[6] On an 1860 map of Russian America (Alaska), the island group is called the King George III Archipelago.