Prince of Wales Island (Alaska) facts for kids
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Native name:
Taan
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Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 55°37′55″N 132°54′27″W / 55.63194°N 132.90750°W |
| Area | 2,577 sq mi (6,670 km2) |
| Length | 135 mi (217 km) |
| Width | 65 mi (105 km) |
| Administration | |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | The Unorganized Borough |
| Largest settlement | Craig (pop. 1,201) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 5,559 |
| Pop. density | 2.16 /sq mi (0.834 /km2) |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| ZIP code | 99921, 99925, 99928 |
| Area code | +1 907 |
Prince of Wales Island is a large island in Alaska, a state in the United States. It is part of the Alexander Archipelago, a group of islands in Southeast Alaska. The island is the fourth-largest in the United States and the 97th-largest in the world. Its native name in the Tlingit language is Taan, which means "sea lion".
Contents
Geography and Nature
Prince of Wales Island is about 217 kilometers (135 miles) long and 105 kilometers (65 miles) wide. It covers an area of about 6,674 square kilometers (2,577 square miles). This makes it slightly larger than the state of Delaware. Around 6,000 people live on the island.
Craig is the biggest town, with about 1,500 people. It started as a place to prepare fish in the early 1900s. Klawock is another important village, known for its fishing industry. Hollis was once a mining town. Today, it has about 100 people and is where the ferry arrives.
The island has tall mountains, deep valleys called fjords, and thick forests. Many of the mountain peaks were covered by ancient glaciers long ago. The island also has many limestone areas with cool caves. One of these is El Capitan Pit, which is over 182 meters (598 feet) deep. It might be the deepest vertical cave shaft in the United States.
The weather on the island is usually wet and influenced by the ocean.
Most of Prince of Wales Island is covered by the Tongass National Forest. This forest is home to unique animals, like the Prince of Wales flying squirrel. You won't find this type of squirrel anywhere else in the world!
History
Prince of Wales Island is the traditional home of the Kaigani Haida people. The Haida moved to this area in the late 1700s. The island is also traditional Tlingit territory.
- 1741: A Russian explorer named Aleksei Chirikov was the first European to visit the coast near the island.
- 1774: A Spanish expedition led by Juan Pérez reached an island off the west coast of Prince of Wales Island.
- 1779: A British expedition led by Captain James Cook sailed past the island.
- 1786: A French expedition led by Comte de La Perouse explored the area.
- 1793: George Vancouver named the group of islands the "Prince of Wales Archipelago." He named it after George, Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV. By 1825, the name "Prince of Wales Island" was used for this specific large island.
In the late 1800s, people started mining for gold, copper, and other metals on the island. The Ross-Adams mine on the island was the only place in Alaska where uranium was mined in the 1950s and 1970s.
Economy
The economy of Prince of Wales Island has changed over time.
Logging
For most of the 1900s, logging (cutting down trees) was the main industry on the island. However, this industry has become much smaller. Today, only a few small sawmills are still working.
In the 1970s, there were legal battles to stop large-scale logging on the northern part of the island. Roads were built for logging companies, but many of these roads are now being removed because they are no longer needed.
Tourism
Tourism is now a very important part of the island's economy. Many people come for sport fishing. The old logging roads now help tourists explore the island for hiking and camping. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority has also made it easier for visitors to reach the island.
Fishing
Commercial fishing is a major part of the economy for many towns on the island, like Craig and Klawock.
- In summer, fishermen catch all five types of Pacific salmon.
- They also catch halibut and black cod.
- Dungeness crab and shrimp can be caught all year.
- In winter, people dive for geoducks, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins.
Government
Most of Prince of Wales Island is federal land, meaning it's managed by the U.S. government. The two ranger districts on the island, in Craig and Thorne Bay, provide jobs for many local people.
Mining Today
Even though logging has slowed down, people are still looking for minerals on Prince of Wales Island. There is interest in finding rare earth metals at Bokan Mountain. These metals are important for modern technology. As of 2019, a mine for these metals was still being planned.
Transportation
Getting around Prince of Wales Island and to other places is important for residents and visitors.
Roads
The island has a large road system, which was originally built for logging. Most of these roads are gravel, with only a small part being paved. This road system is now a state "scenic highway" that connects almost all the communities on the island.
Cargo
Companies offer regular barge services to bring goods to towns like Craig and Thorne Bay from other ports.
Public Ferry
The Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) provides daily ferry service between Prince of Wales Island (from Hollis) and Ketchikan. This ferry trip takes about three hours.
- The IFA carries over 50,000 passengers and 12,000 vehicles each year.
- It helps the economy by bringing tourists who spend money on hotels, fishing trips, and food.
- It helps the seafood industry move fresh seafood to market.
- It provides access to medical services in Ketchikan for island residents.
- Students, tribal members, and other residents use the ferry for school events, cultural gatherings, and visiting family and friends.
- The ferry is very reliable, helping businesses plan their operations.
- It also offers affordable transportation, especially for senior citizens and young children, saving them money compared to flying.
Airports
Klawock Airport is the only airport on Prince of Wales Island. Several airlines in Ketchikan offer scheduled flights to the island. You can also arrange for air taxi or chartered flights.
Seaplane Bases
Prince of Wales Island also has several seaplane bases, which are places where seaplanes can land on water.
| FAA | IATA | ICAO | Seaplane Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCC | Coffman Cove | ||
| CGA | Craig | ||
| HYL | Hollis | ||
| HYG | PAHY | Hydaburg | |
| KXA | Kasaan | ||
| AQC | PAQC | Klawock | |
| KPB | Point Baker | ||
| 19P | Port Protection | ||
| KTB | Thorne Bay | ||
| KWF | Waterfall |
Scheduled Airlines
| Airline | Hub(s) | Prince of Wales Island Airports |
|---|---|---|
| Island Air Express | Klawock | Ketchikan Daily Scheduled Service from Klawock to Ketchikan |
| Taquan Air | Ketchikan | Coffman Cove, Craig, Edna Bay, Hollis, Hydaburg, Naukati Bay, Point Baker, Port Protection, Thorne Bay, Whale Pass |
Communities
- Coffman Cove
- Craig
- Hollis
- Hydaburg
- Kasaan
- Klawock
- Naukati Bay
- Point Baker
- Port Protection
- Port St. Nicholas
- Thorne Bay
- Waterfall
- Whale Pass
Notable People
- Holly Madison: An American model who used to live on the island.
- Elisabeth and Roy Peratrovich: These two people were important in the fight for civil rights in Alaska. They helped pass Alaska's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, which was the first civil rights law in the U.S. Elisabeth Peratrovich Day is a special day in Alaska, similar to Martin Luther King Day.
See also
In Spanish: Isla del Príncipe de Gales para niños
