Cape Saint Elias facts for kids
Cape Saint Elias is a special piece of land in Alaska, a state in the United States. It's a cape, which means it's a point of land that sticks out into the ocean. You can find it at the southwest end of Kayak Island. It is about 104 kilometers (65 miles) southeast of a town called Cordova. Many people believe that Mount Saint Elias, one of the tallest mountains in the United States and Canada, was named after this cape.
How Did Cape Saint Elias Get Its Name?
The cape was named by a Danish explorer named Vitus Bering. He named it on July 20, 1741, after St. Elias. July 20 is St. Elias's special day in the Christian calendar. Other explorers also gave the cape different names over time. For example, in 1779, Don Ignacio Artega called it "Santa Rosa." Later, in 1794, George Vancouver named it "Hamond Point."
Building the Cape Saint Elias Lighthouse
In October 1913, the U.S. Congress decided to build a lighthouse on the cape. They set aside $115,000 for the project. Construction began in 1915 and finished in 1916. A special type of light, called a third order Fresnel Lens, was installed. At that time, this was only the second lighthouse of its kind in Alaska.
Alaska's First Confirmed Tornado
Cape Saint Elias is also known for something unusual: it was the site of Alaska's very first confirmed tornado! This tornado happened on November 4, 1959. It caused only minor damage to the area. Alaska was the 50th and last state to officially record its first tornado since 1950.
