Chiswell Islands facts for kids
The Chiswell Islands are a group of rocky islands in Alaska. They are found in the Gulf of Alaska, about 35 miles south of Seward, Alaska. These islands are part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. They are a very important place for many birds and sea animals.
About the Chiswell Islands
The Chiswell Islands are a collection of islands made of rock. No people live on them. You can only reach them by boat or by airplane. They are part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough in Alaska.
These islands are very active seismically. This means there are often earthquakes or movements in the Earth's crust. This activity has shaped the islands, making them rugged and rough. Strong tides and big waves from the sea have also carved the landscape. The islands look like they rise straight up out of the water. There are no flat beaches here.
Home to Amazing Wildlife
The Chiswell Islands are home to millions of marine birds and mammals. They are a special sanctuary, or safe place, for these animals. You can find many sea creatures like starfish and barnacles living on the rocks.
The islands are also a small rookery for endangered Steller sea lions. A rookery is a place where these animals gather to breed and raise their young.
Birds of the Islands
Every year, millions of birds come to these islands to nest. They lay their eggs and raise their chicks here. Some of the birds that nest on the Chiswell Islands include:
- Horned puffins
- Black-legged kittiwakes, which build their nests on the exposed rock faces of cliffs
- Tufted puffins
- Various auklets, like the Cassin's auklet and the whiskered auklet
See also
In Spanish: Islas Chiswell para niños
