Nizki Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Avayax̂
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Nautical Chart of Nizki Island
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4 - Nizki
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| Geography | |
| Archipelago | Semichi Islands |
| Highest elevation | 165 ft (50.3 m) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Alaska |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Nizki Island is an island in Alaska, a state in the United States. It is not currently home to any people. The island's name in the Aleut language is Avayax̂. Its Russian name, Nizkiy, means "low." This name fits the island well because it is not very high above the sea.
Nizki Island is part of the Aleutian Islands. It belongs to a smaller group of islands called the Semichi Islands, which are part of the Near Islands. Nizki Island is located between Shemya Island to the east and Alaid Island to the west. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long. Sometimes, a narrow strip of sand connects Nizki Island to Alaid Island. The highest point on Nizki Island is about 50 meters (165 feet) above sea level. The island's coastline is very uneven, with many rocks, reefs, and areas of seaweed.
Wildlife and Conservation
Nizki Island is an important place for many types of birds. However, its wildlife faced a big challenge in the past.
The Impact of Foxes
In the 1800s, Russian fur traders brought foxes to Nizki Island. They did this to raise the foxes for their fur. Unfortunately, these foxes caused a lot of harm to the island's native bird populations. Many bird species that nested on the ground were eaten by the foxes. This led to a sharp decrease in the number of birds. Some bird populations almost disappeared from the island.
Restoring Bird Populations
Efforts were made to help the birds recover. The last fox was removed from Nizki Island in 1976. Since then, the island's bird populations have started to grow back. Today, you can find many birds there. These include the Aleutian Canada Goose, which was once thought to be extinct. Other common birds are Puffins and Aleutian Terns. This shows how removing introduced predators can help an ecosystem heal.
See also
