Kodiak Archipelago facts for kids

Map showing the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska

The Kodiak Archipelago is a group of islands in Alaska, United States. It's located south of mainland Alaska, about 405 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Anchorage in the Gulf of Alaska. The biggest island in this group is Kodiak Island. It's actually the second-largest island in the entire United States!

The archipelago stretches about 285 kilometers (177 miles) long and 108 kilometers (67 miles) wide. It goes from the Barren Islands in the north to Chirikof Island and the Semidi Islands in the south. The total land area of the Kodiak Archipelago is about 13,890 square kilometers (5,360 sq mi).

This island group has about 40 small glaciers, many streams, and lots of different land and sea animals. Much of the land is covered in forests. The Kodiak Island Borough includes all of these islands and some land on the mainland. A large part of the archipelago is protected as the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Islands of the Kodiak Archipelago

The Kodiak Archipelago is made up of many islands. Here are some of the main ones:

• Afognak - This is the second largest island in the group.
• Aiaktalik Island
• Ban Island
• Barren Islands - These are the most northern islands.
  • Ushagat Island
  • Nord Island
  • East Amatuli Island
  • West Amatuli Island
• Chirikof Island - This is the most southern island.
• Dark Island
• Geese Islands
• Kodiak Island - This is the largest island in the archipelago.
• Long Island
• Marmot Island - This is the most eastern island.
• Near Island
• Raspberry Island
• Semidi Islands - These are the most western islands.
  • Aghiyuk Island
  • Anowiki Island
  • Chowiet Island
  • Kateekuk Island
  • Kiliktagik Island
• Shuyak Island
• Sitkalidak Island
• Spruce Island
  • Nelson Island
• Sundstrom Island
• Trinity Islands
  • Tugidak Island
  • Sitkinak Island
• Two-Headed Island
• Uganik Island
• Ugak Island
• Whale Island
• Woody Island

Ancient History of the Kodiak Islands

Scientists have studied the history of people living on the Kodiak Islands for thousands of years. They believe that the culture of the people here has continued for a very long time, changing slowly over time.

The recent history of human life on the islands is divided into four main time periods:

• Early Kachemak
• Late Kachemak
• Koniag
• Alutiiq

Let's explore what each period was like.

Early Kachemak Period (1850 BC - 500 BC)

During this time, people started to change how they found food. Instead of always moving to find food, they began to collect and store it. Their homes were small. They also developed better tools and ways to process food.

Some tools found from this period include harpoons, net weights, and special knives called ulus. The first people to live here were called the Ocean Bay people. They were skilled at using both ocean and land resources, hunting mammals and catching fish. Over time, they developed more specialized tools for hunting. Their small tents eventually became small pit houses around 2000 BC.

Late Kachemak Period (500 BC - 1200 AD)

This period saw a big increase in the number of people living on the islands. Communities grew larger, with up to ten homes in one place. People also started building storage areas for their food.

They had special ways of burying their dead. Finding items like labrets (lip ornaments) suggests that some people had higher social status. People also started to specialize in making certain crafts.

Koniag Period (1200 AD - European Contact)

The population reached its highest point during the Koniag period. Houses and settlements continued to grow in size. This suggests that a social ranking system might have developed. Homes became more detailed, and storage areas got even bigger.

People started moving their homes closer to the coast. This gave them better access to ocean resources, especially whales. They also became very good at catching salmon and processing food. They traded goods and became skilled carpenters.

Alutiiq Period (Modern Day)

The islands of the Kodiak Archipelago are the traditional home of the Alutiiq people. These people were previously known as the Koniag. The rich coastal environment provided plenty of resources for them. The land environment, however, had fewer natural resources.

See also

In Spanish: Archipiélago Kodiak para niños