Pavlof Islands facts for kids
The Pavlof Islands (called Qudugin in the Aleut language) are a group of seven islands. They are located south of Pavlof Bay on the Alaska Peninsula. These islands are part of the Aleutians East Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The islands are uninhabited, meaning no people live there.
About the Pavlof Islands
The Pavlof Islands include:
- Dolgoi Island (Anganax̂six̂)
- Goloi (Atx̂uunux̂)
- Inner Iliasik (Iluuĝix̂ Ixsaĝdaaĝux̂)
- Outer Iliasik (Qagaaĝix̂ Ixsaĝdaaĝux̂)
- Poperechnoi (Kuyagdax̂)
- Ukolnoi (Kitaĝutax̂̂)
- Wosnesenski (Unatxux̂)
Dolgoi Island is the biggest island in this group. Together, all the islands cover a total land area of about 206.265 km2 (79.639 sq mi).
Volcano Activity Nearby
The Pavlof Islands are near the Pavlof Volcano, which is very active. On June 1, 1997, scientists noticed more earthquakes around the volcano. Just two days later, the National Weather Service reported a large cloud of steam rising 3,000 feet (914 m) above the volcano's top.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory keeps a close eye on Pavlof Volcano. They expect it to erupt again. The last time Pavlof Volcano erupted was from September to December 1996. This information helps scientists understand how volcanoes behave.
How the Islands Got Their Name
The English name for the Pavlof Islands comes from a man named Pitka Pavalof. He was a Creole, meaning he had both Russian and Native Alaskan heritage.
In 1893, Pitka Pavalof and another Creole man named Sergei Gologoff Cherosky made an important discovery. They found gold on Birch Creek in Interior Alaska. When other gold seekers heard about this, they tried to take over the claims. They argued that Pitka and Sergei's claims were not valid because they were Native.
However, this gold discovery brought many more people to the Yukon River. It also led to the founding of the town of Circle.
