Lemesurier Island facts for kids

Lemesurier Island is a cool place located in the beautiful state of Alaska, in the U.S.. It's the second-biggest island in the Icy Strait, which is a waterway between Chichagof Island and the main part of Alaska's Panhandle. You can find it about halfway between the town of Gustavus on the mainland and the small community of Elfin Cove on Chichagof Island.

Discovering Lemesurier Island

Lemesurier Island is a fascinating spot with a rich history and natural beauty. It's a great example of Alaska's wild and untouched places.

Island History and Names

The native Huna Tlingit people called this island Tàaś Daa. This name means "Two-headed Tide Island," which is pretty interesting! The Tlingit people used the island for many things. They would gather currants, which are small berries, and hunt seals there. It was also a place where they built forts for protection.

The island got its current name from W.H. Dall. He named it after William Le Mesurier (1767–1833). Le Mesurier was a midshipman on a ship called HMS Chatham. A midshipman was a junior officer in the navy, learning how to command a ship.

Size and Population

Lemesurier Island is quite large, covering about 27.534 square kilometers (or 10.631 square miles). That's a lot of land! According to a census taken in 2000, only one person lived on the island at that time.

Wilderness and Nature

Lemesurier Island is part of a special protected area called the Pleasant/Lemesurier/Inian Islands Wilderness. This wilderness area also includes Pleasant Island and the Inian Islands. It's a part of the huge Tongass National Forest, which is the largest national forest in the United States. Being a "wilderness area" means it's kept very natural and wild, with minimal human impact. This helps protect the animals and plants that live there.