Afognak facts for kids
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Native name:
Ag’waneq
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Sealions off the coast of Afognak Island near Kodiak, Alaska.
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 Afognak
Location in Alaska
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 58°15′00″N 152°30′00″W / 58.25000°N 152.50000°W |
| Archipelago | Kodiak Archipelago |
| Area | 699.84 sq mi (1,812.6 km2) |
| Length | 43 mi (69 km) |
| Width | 23 mi (37 km) |
| Highest elevation | 2,546 ft (776 m) |
| Highest point | unnamed |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Kodiak Island |
| Largest settlement | Aleneva (pop. 37) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 169 |
| Pop. density | 0.09 /km2 (0.23 /sq mi) |
Afognak is a large island in Alaska, United States. It is part of the Kodiak Archipelago. The island is located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of Kodiak Island.
Afognak is quite big, stretching about 69 kilometers (43 miles) from east to west. It is also about 37 kilometers (23 miles) wide from north to south. With a land area of 1,812.58 square kilometers (699.84 sq mi), it is the 18th largest island in the United States. The island's coast has many long, narrow bays. The highest point on Afognak Island is 776 meters (2,546 feet) high.
The island's thick spruce forests are home to many animals. You can find large Kodiak bears here. There are also Roosevelt elk and Sitka black-tailed deer. Many people visit Afognak for fun activities like hunting and fishing.
Island History
Afognak Island has a rich history. In 1890, the United States Census recorded several small towns along the coast. These were near the Alutiiq village of Ag’waneq, also known as Afognak. One of these towns was Rutkovsky village. It was home to people who used to work for the Russian-American Company.
The original village of Ag’waneq was abandoned after a huge natural disaster. This was the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. This powerful earthquake caused a lot of damage to the island. Today, the people who are descendants of the Alaska Native residents of Afognak are officially known as the Native Village of Afognak. Most of them now live in nearby towns like Port Lions or Kodiak.
Life on Afognak Island Today
In the early 2000s, Afognak Island had a few small logging camps. There were also places for people to stay when they went fishing. A group of Russian Old Believers live in a community called Aleneva.
The people on the island mostly get their food and supplies through subsistence. This means they hunt, fish, and gather what they need. Logging also plays a part in their way of life.
Getting around the island is mostly done by float plane. These planes fly from Kodiak to different spots on Afognak. In the year 2000, a census showed that 169 people lived on the island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Afognak para niños
