Kruzof Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Tlikh
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| Geography | |
| Archipelago | Alexander Archipelago |
| Area | 167.47 sq mi (433.7 km2) |
| Length | 24 mi (39 km) |
| Width | 9 mi (14 km) |
| Highest elevation | 3,201 ft (975.7 m) |
| Highest point | Mount Edgecumbe |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Alaska |
Kruzof Island is a cool island located in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska. It's about 10 miles (16 km) west of Sitka and is part of the Sitka area. A Russian Admiral inspired its name, given by Captain U.T. Lisianski in 1805. Kruzof Island is special because it has the only volcano in the area, called Mount Edgecumbe. The Tlingit people, who are native to this region, called the island Tlikh.
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Island's Many Names Over Time
Kruzof Island has had many different names throughout history! Before it was called Kruzof, it was known as San Jacinto. This name came from its highest point, Mount Edgecumbe, which was named Montaña de San Jacinto in 1775 by Don Juan de la Bodega y Quadra. Later, another explorer, La Pérouse, called the island St. Hyacinthe.
In 1787, Captain Nathaniel Portlock named it Pitt Island. Early Russian traders simply called it Sitka Island. In 1849, Constantin Grewingk named it Edgecumbe. For a while, it was known as Kruzow Island before finally becoming Kruzof Island, which is its name today.
Geography and Volcanoes
Kruzof Island is about 23 miles (37 km) long and 8 miles (13 km) wide. Its total land area is about 167.47 square miles (433.7 km²). This makes it the 41st largest island in the United States.
A big part of the island is made up of Mount Edgecumbe. This is a small, sleeping volcano called a stratovolcano. The island also has several other smaller volcanic cones and collapsed cones. Together, these form a volcanic field. Even though Mount Edgecumbe is dormant, it's still a very important and interesting part of the island's landscape.
Human Connections to Kruzof Island
No one lives permanently on Kruzof Island today. However, people do visit! There's a path that goes from Fred's Creek cabin, which is a cabin managed by the United States Forest Service, all the way to the top of Mount Edgecumbe. There are also other paths that cross the island.
In 1813, a Russian exploration ship called the Neva crashed near the island. The people who survived made it to shore and set up a camp. They stayed there for about a month until they were rescued. The exact spot where the ship wrecked and where the survivors camped has been found.
A place on the northern shore of the island, Kalinin Bay, gave its name to a World War II United States Navy ship, the USS Kalinin Bay. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the forests on Kruzof Island were used for timber by clearcutting.
See also
- In Spanish: Isla Kruzof para niños
