The Alexander Archipelago (Russian: Архипелаг Александра) is a 300-mile (480 km) long archipelago (group of islands) in North America lying off the southeastern coast of Alaska. It contains about 1,100 islands, the tops of submerged coastal mountains that rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean. Deep channels and fjords separate the islands and cut them off from the mainland. The islands shelter the northern part of the Inside Passage as it winds its way among them.
Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island and Sitka on Baranof Island are the largest towns on the islands. 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.
Tourism, fishing, and logging are the main industries of the islands.
Historyedit
The first European to visit the archipelago was the Russian navigator Aleksei Chirikov in 1741, who sighted the coasts of Noyes and Baker Islands (both off the west coast of Prince of Wales Island), as well as Baranof, Chichagof, Kruzof and Yakobi Islands.[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.[3] In 1792 Jacinto Caamaño sighted Revillagigedo Island and the Gravina Islands, discovering Clarence Strait.[4]George Vancouver and his men made an extensive survey of the archipelago in 1793 and 1794, circumnavigating both Revillagigedo and Admiralty Islands, charting the entirety of Kuiu Island, the east sides of Baranof and Chichagof Islands, and Etolin, Wrangell, Zarembo, Mitkof, and Kupreanof Islands.[5] Within a decade the Russians had traversed Peril Strait separating Chichagof and Baranof Islands, and in the following decades found the straits and passages separating several of the other major islands. An 1844 Russian chart shows Kupreanof separated from Mitkof Island and Etolin, Wrangell, Woronkofski, and Zarembo Islands separated from each other.[citation needed]
The archipelago was a locus of the Maritime Fur Trade during the early 19th century. Control of the islands passed from Russia to the United States with the Alaska Purchase in 1867.
According to Donald Orth's Dictionary of Alaska Place Names (p. 64), the Alexander Archipelago received its name from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1867. The island chain is named for Tsar Alexander II of Russia.[6]
On an 1860 map of Russian America (Alaska), the island group is called the King George III Archipelago.
^Golder, Frank Alfred and Leonhard Stejneger (1922). Bering's voyages: an account of the efforts of the Russians to determine the relation of Asia and America. New York: American Geographical Society. p. 36. bering 1741 voyage.
^Hayes, Derek (2001). Historical atlas of the North Pacific Ocean: maps of discovery and scientific exploration, 1500–2000. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.
^Hayes, Derek (1999). Historical altas of the Pacific Northwest: Maps of exploration and discovery; British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Yukon. Seattle: Sasquatch Books.
^Hayes, Derek (2004). America Discovered: A Historical Atlas of North American Exploration. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre.
^Vancouver, George, and John Vancouver (1801). A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific ocean, and round the world. London: J. Stockdale.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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February 16, 2024
alexander, archipelago, russian, Архипелаг, Александра, mile, long, archipelago, group, islands, north, america, lying, southeastern, coast, alaska, contains, about, islands, tops, submerged, coastal, mountains, that, rise, steeply, from, pacific, ocean, deep,. The Alexander Archipelago Russian Arhipelag Aleksandra is a 300 mile 480 km long archipelago group of islands in North America lying off the southeastern coast of Alaska It contains about 1 100 islands the tops of submerged coastal mountains that rise steeply from the Pacific Ocean Deep channels and fjords separate the islands and cut them off from the mainland The islands shelter the northern part of the Inside Passage as it winds its way among them Alexander ArchipelagoA MODIS photograph of the Alexander ArchipelagoAlexander ArchipelagoGeographyLocationPacific OceanCoordinates57 N 134 W 57 N 134 W 57 134AdministrationUnited StatesStateAlaskaThe islands have irregular steep coasts and dense evergreen and temperate rain forests most are accessible only by boat or by aeroplane The vast majority of the islands are part of the Tongass National Forest In order of land area the largest islands are Prince of Wales Island Chichagof Island Admiralty Island Baranof Island Revillagigedo Island Kupreanof Island Kuiu Island Etolin Island Dall Island Wrangell Island Mitkof Island Zarembo Island Kosciusko Island Kruzof Island Annette Island Gravina Island and Yakobi Island All the islands are rugged densely forested and have an abundance of wildlife The Tlingit and Kaigani Haida people are native to the area 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 Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island and Sitka on Baranof Island are the largest towns on the islands 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 Tourism fishing and logging are the main industries of the islands History editThe first European to visit the archipelago was the Russian navigator Aleksei Chirikov in 1741 who sighted the coasts of Noyes and Baker Islands both off the west coast of Prince of Wales Island as well as Baranof Chichagof Kruzof and Yakobi Islands 1 In 1774 Juan Jose Perez Hernandez 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 3 In 1792 Jacinto Caamano sighted Revillagigedo Island and the Gravina Islands discovering Clarence Strait 4 George Vancouver and his men made an extensive survey of the archipelago in 1793 and 1794 circumnavigating both Revillagigedo and Admiralty Islands charting the entirety of Kuiu Island the east sides of Baranof and Chichagof Islands and Etolin Wrangell Zarembo Mitkof and Kupreanof Islands 5 Within a decade the Russians had traversed Peril Strait separating Chichagof and Baranof Islands and in the following decades found the straits and passages separating several of the other major islands An 1844 Russian chart shows Kupreanof separated from Mitkof Island and Etolin Wrangell Woronkofski and Zarembo Islands separated from each other citation needed The archipelago was a locus of the Maritime Fur Trade during the early 19th century Control of the islands passed from Russia to the United States with the Alaska Purchase in 1867 According to Donald Orth s Dictionary of Alaska Place Names p 64 the Alexander Archipelago received its name from the U S Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1867 The island chain is named for Tsar Alexander II of Russia 6 On an 1860 map of Russian America Alaska the island group is called the King George III Archipelago See also editAlexander Archipelago wolf Bell Island British Columbia Coast Boundary Ranges Catherine Island Hunter Bay Kadin Island William Henry BayReferences edit Golder Frank Alfred and Leonhard Stejneger 1922 Bering s voyages an account of the efforts of the Russians to determine the relation of Asia and America New York American Geographical Society p 36 bering 1741 voyage Hayes Derek 2001 Historical atlas of the North Pacific Ocean maps of discovery and scientific exploration 1500 2000 Vancouver Douglas amp McIntyre Hayes Derek 1999 Historical altas of the Pacific Northwest Maps of exploration and discovery British Columbia Washington Oregon Alaska Yukon Seattle Sasquatch Books Hayes Derek 2004 America Discovered A Historical Atlas of North American Exploration Vancouver Douglas amp McIntyre Vancouver George and John Vancouver 1801 A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific ocean and round the world London J Stockdale a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Alexander Archipelago Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Retrieved 2018 05 22 Alexander Archipelago Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexander Archipelago Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Archipelago amp oldid 1188698850, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
