Middleton Island facts for kids

A group of Steller sea lions near Middleton Island in 1978.

Middleton Island is a small island in Alaska, a state in the United States. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, about 80 miles (129 km) southwest of a town called Cordova.

Most of the land on the island belongs to the Chugach Alaska Corporation. This is a company owned by Native Alaskans. Middleton Island also has a small airport and a special radar that helps track weather. This radar is run by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). There is also a private research center called the Middleton Island Marine Biological Station. Scientists live and work there all year long.

During World War II, an American transport ship got stuck on the island in 1942. Its wreck is still there today. From 1958 to 1963, Middleton Island was home to an early warning radar station for the U.S. Air Force. In 1964, a huge earthquake hit Alaska. This earthquake made Middleton Island rise about 12 feet (3.7 meters) higher above the sea. This made the island much bigger, increasing its size by about 45%.

Island Formation and the 1964 Earthquake

Scientists believe Middleton Island is quite young, only about 5,000 years old. It formed because the land in this area is slowly pushed upwards by Earth's movements.

In 1964, the second largest earthquake ever recorded happened in Alaska. This powerful earthquake caused Middleton Island to rise an extra 12 feet (3.7 meters) out of the ocean. This meant that land that was once underwater became new dry land. The island grew from about 2,200 acres (890 hectares) to 3,200 acres (1,300 hectares), which is a 45% increase! This new land is still changing today as sand and dirt build up, and new plants start to grow.

Amazing Wildlife and Seabirds

Middleton Island is a very special place for birds. The number of birds living here changes a lot, more than almost anywhere else in Alaska. The island is home to many different kinds of seabirds, like kittiwakes, cormorants, gulls, murres, and puffins. However, their populations are not always the same. They can go up and down a lot, as scientists have seen since they started watching them in the 1970s.

Several things cause these big changes in bird numbers. The 1964 earthquake changed the coastline, reducing some of the cliffs where seabirds like to nest. Also, the amount of food available for the birds can change. In warmer years, there is often less food. Another big reason is the increase in bald eagles. Eagles are predators, meaning they hunt and eat other animals, including seabirds.

Middleton Island also has wild rabbits. These rabbits have been living on the island since the 1950s. They are an important food source for eagles and owls, especially during the winter. However, the rabbit population grows back quickly in the summer. Besides rabbits, the only other wild mammals found on or near the island are seals, sea lions, and sometimes sea otters and whales.

Island History and Ownership

For a long time, Chugach and Eyak Native American groups used Middleton Island seasonally. The first people to live there permanently were fox farmers in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

During World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard built a small communications station on the island. After that, other U.S. government groups used the island. These included the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the U.S. Air Force (which had a base there), and the Federal Aviation Administration (which runs the airport and radar). Different wildlife and land management groups have also used the island.

Today, most of the island is owned by the Chugach Alaska Corporation. This is one of 13 corporations in Alaska owned by Native Alaskans. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) still owns about 200 acres (81 hectares) for its radar systems that help with weather and air traffic. The private Middleton Island Marine Biological Station owns another 182 acres (74 hectares).

Middleton Island Marine Biological Station

The Middleton Island Marine Biological Station is a research center that studies seabirds. It is located on 182 acres (74 hectares) of land, including the area where the old Air Force station used to be. Scientists live on the island all year, and students and other researchers visit too.

The Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation owns and manages this station. It is their main project. The station gets money from groups like Gulf Watch Alaska and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Middleton Island has the longest-running study of seabirds at any breeding site in Alaska. This study started in 1956, even before the Air Force base was built. A researcher named Robert Rausch did the first study of the island's plants and animals then. In 2024, the station reported that between 2 and 12 researchers live on the island year-round, with more people there in the summer.

The Shipwreck of the SS Coldbrook

The SS Coldbrook was a merchant ship built in 1919. In 1942, a Japanese submarine chased it towards Middleton Island. To save his crew, the captain decided to intentionally run the ship aground on the island. The ship was too damaged to be fixed and stayed stuck in the ocean waves.

Then, the 1964 Alaska earthquake happened. When the island rose 12 feet (3.7 meters), the Coldbrook was lifted out of the water. Now, the old, rusty ship is stuck high and dry, away from the crashing waves. This ship, which is over 100 years old, is now home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Scientists from the Middleton Island Marine Biological Station study these birds.

Climate

Middleton Island has a cool, wet climate, similar to some parts of the ocean. It is called a subpolar oceanic climate.