| Aleutian Islands | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Total islands | >300 |
| Major islands | Unalaska Island |
| Area | 6,821 sq mi (17,670 km²) |
| Length | 1,200 mi (1,900 km)
|
| Administration | |
 United States |
|
| State |  Alaska |
| Largest city | Unalaska (4,283) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 8,162 (as of 2000) |
| Indigenous people | Aleut |
The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, "island") are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 6,821 sq mi (17,666 km²) and extending about 1,200 mi (1,900 km) westward from the Alaska Peninsula toward the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Unalaska ( Nawan-Alaxsxa in Aleut) is an Island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Unalaska ( Iluulux̂ in Aleut) is a small city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U The Aleuts ( self-denomination from Aleut language allíthuh 'community' older or regional self-denomination Unangax̂, Unangan or The Chukchi language (лыгъоравэтлъан йилйил lyg"oravetl'an jiljil) also known as Luoravetlan, Chukot and Chukcha is An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant A volcanic arc is a chain of volcanic islands or Mountains formed by Plate tectonics as an oceanic Tectonic plate subducts under The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The Alaska Peninsula is a Peninsula extending about 800 km (500 miles to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. Crossing longitude 180°, they are the westernmost part of the United States (and technically also the easternmost; see Extreme points of the United States). The United States of America —commonly referred to as the This is a list of the extreme points of the United States, the points that are farther north south east or west than any other location in the country Nearly all the archipelago is part of Alaska and usually considered as being in the "Alaskan Bush", but at the extreme western end the small, geologically-related, and remote Komandorski Islands, are in Russia. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Much like other roadless or remote parts of Australia and Africa the state of Alaska in the United States has area commonly referred to as " the Bush " Commander Islands or Komandorski Islands (Командо́рские острова́ Komandorskiye ostrova) are a group of treeless Russian Islands Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The islands, with their 57 volcanoes, are in the northern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The Alaska Marine Highway passes through the islands. Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS is a Ferry service operated by the government of the U
Physiographically, they are a distinct section of the larger Pacific Border province, which in turn are part of the larger Pacific Mountain System physiographic division. Physiographic regions of the US Interior (See legend) For
Contents |
Geography
The islands, known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, comprise five groups: the Fox, Islands of Four Mountains, Andreanof, Rat and Near island groups (with Buldir Island halfway between Rat and Near Islands, but part neither group). Unalaska ( Nawan-Alaxsxa in Aleut) is an Island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the U The Fox Islands are a group of Islands in the eastern Aleutian Islands of the U Islands of Four Mountains is an Island grouping of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, United States. The Andreanof Islands ( Niiĝuĝin tanangis in Aleut) are a group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. The Rat Islands ( Qax̂um tanangis in Aleut) are a group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska, between Buldir Island The Near Islands ( Sasignan tanangin in Aleut) are the smallest and westernmost group of the Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska, at about Buldir Island (also sometimes written Buldyr; Idmaax in Aleut) is a small island in the western Aleutian Islands of the U They are all located between 52° and 55° N latitude and 172° E and 163° W longitude.
The axis of the archipelago near the mainland of Alaska has a southwest trend, but near the 129th meridian its direction changes to the northwest. This change of direction corresponds to a curve in the line of volcanic fissures that have contributed their products to the building of the islands. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the Such curved chains are repeated about the Pacific Ocean in the Kuril Islands, the Japanese chain and in the Philippines. The Kuril Islands (ˈkʊrɪl or /ˈkjuˈriˈl/ Кури́льские острова́ əstrʌˈva ru-Latn ''Kuril'skie ostrova'' or Kurile Islands in Russia For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP All these island arcs are at the edge of the Pacific Plate and experience a lot of seismic activity, but are still habitable; the Aleutians lie between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. The Pacific Plate is an oceanic Tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean. Seismology (from Greek grc σεισμός seismos, "earthquake" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of Earthquakes Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere The general elevation is greatest in the eastern islands and least in the western. The island chain is a western continuation of the Aleutian Range on the mainland. The Aleutian Range is a major Mountain range of southwest Alaska, extending from Chakachamna Lake (80 miles/130 km southwest of Anchorage to Unimak
The great majority of the islands bear evident marks of volcanic origin, and there are numerous volcanic cones on the north side of the chain, some of them active; many of the islands, however, are not wholly volcanic, but contain crystalline or sedimentary rocks, and also amber and beds of lignite. Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad, is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere The coasts are rocky and surf-worn, and the approaches are exceedingly dangerous, the land rising immediately from the coasts to steep, bold mountains.
Makushin Volcano (5691 ft/1,735 m) located on Unalaska Island, is not quite visible from within the town of Unalaska, though the steam rising from its cone is visible on a (rare) clear day. Makushin Volcano (also known as Mount Makushin) is a Stratovolcano located on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands of the U Unalaska ( Iluulux̂ in Aleut) is a small city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U Denizens of Unalaska need only to climb one of the smaller hills in the area, such as Pyramid Peak or Mt. Newhall, to get a good look at the snow-covered cone. The volcanic Bogoslof and Fire Islands, which rose from the sea in 1796 and 1883 respectively, lie about 30 miles (48 km) west of Unalaska Bay. See also Bogoslof Wilderness List of National Natural Landmarks Sources Volcanoes of the There are three Islands named Fire Island in the US state of Alaska.
Climate
The climate of the islands is oceanic, with moderate and fairly uniform temperatures and heavy rainfall. Fogs are almost constant. Summer weather is much cooler than Southeast Alaska (Sitka), but the winter temperature of the islands and of the Alaska Panhandle is very nearly the same. The Alaska Panhandle, sometimes referred to as Southeast Alaska, is the southeastern portion of the U The mean annual temperature for Unalaska, the most populated island of the group, is about 38 °F (3. Unalaska ( Nawan-Alaxsxa in Aleut) is an Island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the U 4 °C), being about 30 °F (−1. 1 °C) in January and about 52 °F (11. 1 °C) in August. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded on the islands are 78 °F (26 °C) and 5 °F (−15 °C) respectively. The average annual rainfall is about 80 in (2,030 mm), and Unalaska, with about 250 rainy days per year, is said to be one of the rainiest places within the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Flora
The growing season lasts about 135 days, from early in May till late in September, but agriculture is limited to the raising of a few vegetables. With the exception of some stunted willows, the vast majority of the chain is destitute of native trees. Willows, sallows and osiers form the Genus Salix, around 400 species of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs found primarily On some of the islands, such as Adak and Amaknak, there are a few coniferous trees growing, remnants of the Russian period. Adak can refer to Adak Island, one of the Aleutian Islands Adak Alaska, a town on Adak Island Unalaska ( Iluulux̂ in Aleut) is a small city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, " Island " are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming a Volcanic But while tall trees grow in many cold climates, Aleutian conifers—some of them estimated to be two hundred years old—rarely reach a height of even ten feet, and many of them are still less than five feet tall. This is because the islands, much like the Falklands and other islands of similar latitudes, experience such strong winds that taller trees are vulnerable to snapping off. Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the
Instead of trees, the islands are covered with a luxuriant, dense growth of herbage, including grasses, sedges and many flowering plants. Poaceae or Gramineae is a family in the Class Liliopsida of the flowering plants. The family Cyperaceae, or the sedges, is a taxon of monocot Flowering plants that superficially resemble grasses or rushes
Economy
On the less mountainous islands, the raising of sheep and reindeer was once believed to be practicable. There are Bison on islands near Sand Point. Sheep raising seems to have died off with the advent of synthetic fibers which lowered the value of wool. During the 1980s, there were some llama being raised on Unalaska. The llama ( Lama glama) is a South American Camelid, widely used as a Pack animal by the Incas and other natives of the Andes Unalaska ( Nawan-Alaxsxa in Aleut) is an Island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the U Today, the economy is primarily based upon fishing, and, to a lesser extent, the presence of American military. The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking culturing processing preserving storing transporting marketing or selling fish or fish products The only crop is potato. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Chickens are raised in barns under protection from cold. The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from
Demographics
The native people refer to themselves as Unangan, and are now generally known by most non-natives as the "Aleut". The Aleuts ( self-denomination from Aleut language allíthuh 'community' older or regional self-denomination Unangax̂, Unangan or
The Aleut language is one of the two main branches of the Eskimo-Aleut language family. Aleut ( Unangam Tunuu) is a language of the Eskimo-Aleut Language family. Eskimo-Aleut is a Language family native to Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, Alaska, and parts of Siberia. This family is not known to be related to any others.
In the 2000 census, there was a population of 8,162 on the islands, of whom 4,283 were living in the main settlement of Unalaska. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population Unalaska ( Iluulux̂ in Aleut) is a small city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U
History
Prehistory
Because of the location of the islands, stretching like a broken bridge from Asia to America, many anthropologists believe they were a route of the first human occupants of the Americas. The earliest known evidence of human occupation in the Americas is much further south; the early human sites in Alaska have probably been submerged by rising waters during the current interglacial period. An interglacial is a geological interval of warmer global average temperature that separates Glacial periods within an Ice age. People living in the Aleutian Islands developed fine skills in hunting, fishing, and basketry. Hunters made their weapons and watercraft. The baskets are noted for being finely woven with carefully shredded stalks of beach rye.
Russian period
Explorers, traders, colonists, and missionaries arrived from Russia beginning in 1741. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending
In 1741 the Russian government sent Vitus Bering, a Dane in the service of Russia, and Alexei Chirikov, a Russian, in the ships Saint Peter and Saint Paul on a voyage of discovery in the Northern Pacific. Vitus Jonassen Bering (also less correctly Behring) ( August 1681 &ndash December 19, 1741) was a Danish -born navigator in the The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Aleksei Ilyich Chirikov (Алексей Ильич Чириков (1703 – November 1748 was a Russian Navigator and Captain who charted some of the Aleutian The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions After the ships were separated by a storm, Chirikov discovered several eastern islands of the Aleutian group, and Bering discovered several of the western islands, finally being wrecked and losing his life on the island of the Komandorski Islands (Commander Islands) that now bears his name (Bering Island). Commander Islands or Komandorski Islands (Командо́рские острова́ Komandorskiye ostrova) are a group of treeless Russian Islands Bering Island (о́стров Бе́ринга is located off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Bering Sea. The survivors of Bering's party reached the Kamchatka Peninsula in a boat constructed from the wreckage of their ship, and reported that the islands were rich in fur-bearing animals.
Siberian fur hunters flocked to the Commander Islands and gradually moved eastward across the Aleutian Islands to the mainland. In this manner Russia gained a foothold on the northwestern coast of North America. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The Aleutian Islands consequently belonged to Russia, until that country transferred all its possessions in North America to the United States in 1867. The Alaska Purchase (otherwise known as Seward's Folly or Seward's Icebox) by the United States from the Russian Empire occurred in 1867 at the behest
The Russians were ruthless in their expansion, using technology and cruelty to enslave the Aleuts, especially for sea otter hunting. The sea otter ( Enhydra lutris) is a Marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. The Russians captured otter pelts from the Aleutian Islands, through the Gulf of Alaska, along the Alaska Panhandle, and south, even to California. The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Some Aleuts were moved to the Pribilof Islands so that fur seals could be captured there as well. The Pribilof Islands (often called the Fur Seal Islands, Russian: Kotovi) are a group of four Volcanic islands part of the US state
By 1760, the Russian merchant Andrian Tolstykh had made a detailed census in the vicinity of Adak and extended Russian citizenship to the Aleuts. Adak Island ( Adaax in Aleut) is an Island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska
Despite some attempts to eliminate slavery and reduce cruel treatment in the 1790s, the Shelikhov company depended on the labor of Aleut hunters to collect sea otter pelts. The Russian-American Company ( Under His Imperial Majesty's Protection Russian-American Company)was a state-sponsored Trading company begun by Grigory and Natalia
During his third and last voyage, in 1778, Captain James Cook surveyed the eastern portion of the Aleutian archipelago, accurately determined the position of some of the more important islands and corrected many errors of former navigators. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and
Christian influences
One of the first Christian missionaries to arrive in the Aleutian Islands was a monk named Herman, who arrived in 1793 with nine other Russian Orthodox monks and priests. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings See also Eastern Orthodox Church Structure and organization The Slavic Orthodox Church is organized in a hierarchical structure Within two years, he was the only survivor of that party. He settled on Spruce Island, near Kodiak Island, and often defended the rights of the Aleuts against the Russian trading companies. Spruce Island is an island in the Kodiak Archipelago of the Gulf of Alaska in the state of Alaska, USA. Kodiak Island is a large island on the south coast of the US state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. He is now known in the Orthodox Church as St. Herman of Alaska. Saint Herman of Alaska (born 1756 or 1760 in Serpukhov, Russia – died December 13 or November 15, 1837 on Spruce Island
Another early Christian missionary of the Russian Orthodox Church was Father Veniaminov who arrived in Unalaska in 1824. See also Eastern Orthodox Church Structure and organization The Slavic Orthodox Church is organized in a hierarchical structure Unalaska ( Nawan-Alaxsxa in Aleut) is an Island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the U He was named Bishop Innokentii in 1840 and moved to Sitka. He is now known in the Orthodox Church as Saint Innocent of Alaska. Saint Innocent of Alaska ( August 26, 1797 - March 31, 1879) also known as Saint Innocent of Moscow was a Russian Orthodox
The principal settlements were on Unalaska Island. The oldest was Iliuliuk (also called Unalaska), settled in 1760-1775, with a customs house and an Orthodox church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world
US possession
After the American purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, further development took place. New buildings included a Methodist mission and orphanage, and the headquarters for a considerable fleet of United States revenue cutters which patrolled the sealing grounds of the Pribilof Islands. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed Maritime law enforcement The Pribilof Islands (often called the Fur Seal Islands, Russian: Kotovi) are a group of four Volcanic islands part of the US state The first public school in Unalaska opened in 1883.
The U.S. Congress extended American citizenship to all Natives (and this law has been held to include the indigenous peoples of Alaska) in 1924. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses
A hospital was built in Unalaska in 1933 by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs. History Although the bureau which was called the Office of Indian Affairs was formed in 1824 similar agencies had existed in the U
World War II
During World War II, small parts of the Aleutian islands were occupied by Japanese forces, when Attu and Kiska were invaded in order to divert American forces away from the main Japanese attack at Midway Atoll. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Attu ( Atan in Aleut) is the westernmost and largest Island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Kiska ( Qisxa in Aleut) is an Island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at. Midway Atoll (or Midway Island or Midway Islands; Hawaiian: Pihemanu Kauihelani) is a 2 The U. S. Navy, having broken the Japanese naval radio codes, knew that this was just a diversion, and it did not expend large amounts of effort in defending the islands. A few Americans were taken to Japan as prisoners of war. Most of the civilian population of the Aleutians were interned by the United States in camps in the Alaska Panhandle. The Alaska Panhandle, sometimes referred to as Southeast Alaska, is the southeastern portion of the U During the battle of the Aleutian Islands, American forces invaded Japanese-held Attu and defeated the Japanese, and subsequently regained control of all the islands. The Aleutian Islands campaign was a struggle over the Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. The islands were also a stopping point for hundreds of aircraft sent from California to Russia as part of the war effort.
Monday, June 3, 2002 was celebrated as Dutch Harbor Remembrance Day. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The governor of Alaska ordered state flags lowered to half-staff to honor the 78 soldiers who died during the two-day Japanese air attack in 1942. The Aleutian World War II National Historic Area Visitors Center opened in June 2002. The Aleutian World War II National Historic Area is a US National Historic Site on Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Island Chain of Alaska.
Recent and miscellaneous developments
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act became law in 1971. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, commonly abbreviated ANCSA, was signed into law by President Richard M In 1977, the Ounalashka Corporation (from Unalaska) declared a dividend. Dividends are payments made by a Corporation to its Shareholder members This was the first village corporation to declare and pay a dividend to its shareholders.
In 1906 a new volcanic cone rose between the islets of Bogoslof and Grewingk, near Unalaska, followed by another in 1907. These cones were nearly demolished by an explosive eruption on 1 September 1907. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
Miscellaneous
The Aleutian Islands are an important part of the National Missile Defense system proposed to defend the United States from small ballistic missile attacks. National missile defense (NMD as a generic term is a type of Missile defense: a military strategy and associated systems to shield an entire country against incoming Shemya west of Dutch Harbor, is the site of top secret construction in 2007.
In the movie Balto II: Wolf Quest, the character Aleu was named after these islands.
The last shot of the Civil War was fired from the CSS Shenandoah in the Aleutian Islands. History and mission She was designed as a British transport for troops to the East and was built on the River Clyde in Scotland
See also
- 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake
- Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
- Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska
- Battle of the Aleutian Islands
- List of Aleutian Island Volcanoes
- List of Aleutian Islands
- Peter the Aleut
Western Aleutian Islands, from a 1916 map of the Alaska Territory
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake was an Earthquake near the Aleutian Islands on April 1, 1946. Aleutians East Borough (əˈljuːʃənz is a 2nd class borough located in the U Aleutians West Census Area is a Census area located in the US The Aleutian Islands campaign was a struggle over the Aleutian Islands, part of Alaska, in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Akutan Volcano Amak Volcano Amukta Volcano Bobrof Volcano Bogoslof Volcano Major groups in the Aleutian Islands are listed from east to west and islands within each group are listed alphabetically Cungagnaq (Born circa 1800 - d 1815 is venerated as a Martyr and Saint (as Peter the Aleut) by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
Total area of 6,821 sq mi (17,670 km²) from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
Further reading
- Gibson, Daniel D. , and G. Vernon Byrd. Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Cambridge, Mass: Nuttall Ornthological Club, 2007. ISBN 9780943610733
- Ivanov, Vi︠a︡cheslav Vsevolodovich. The Russian Orthodox Church of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands and Its Relation to Native American Traditions-- An Attempt at a Multicultural Society, 1794-1912. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1997. ISBN 0160487811
- Jochelson, Waldemar. Archaeological Investigations in the Aleutian Islands. Washington: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1925.
External links
Dictionary
Aleutian Islands
-proper noun
- An archipelago of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming an island arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, between Alaska and the Kamchatka Peninsula of Asia. They are part of the United States.
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