Sanak Island facts for kids
Sanak Island (called Sanaĝax by the Aleut people) is a cool island in Alaska, a state in the United States. It's part of the Aleutian Islands, which are a long chain of islands. Sanak Island is located way out in the Pacific Ocean.
It's one of the biggest islands in a smaller group called the Sanak Islands, along with Caton Island. To get there, people usually travel by a fishing boat. The trip from King Cove takes about five hours, covering about 40 miles.
Sanak Island: A Look at Its Past
Sanak Island has a long and interesting history. Just like many other islands in the Aleutian chain, the Aleut people lived here for thousands of years. They were the first people to call this island home.
In 1828, a big change happened. The leaders of Russian America decided to move all the Aleut people from Sanak Island. They did this to protect the hunting areas for sea otters in the waters around the island.
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Sanak Island has also seen some exciting events. Two famous shipwrecks happened near the island, one in 1906 and another in 1943. During World War II, the U.S. Navy even had a small naval base on Sanak Island.
Today, no one lives on Sanak Island all the time. However, the island is still owned by the families of its former residents. They visit sometimes to gather the wild cattle that live there.
Uncovering Sanak's Ancient Secrets
Teams of archaeologists and ecologists have visited Sanak Island to study its past. They came in 2004, 2006, and 2007. Their goal was to learn how people living on the island for a long time affected it.
These researchers explored over 100 ancient sites on the island. The oldest of these sites are super old, dating back about 5,600 years!
Scientists from Idaho State University led these studies. They looked at the plants and animals living on the island today. They also studied the remains of food, like fish, sea mammals, and shellfish, found at the old sites. This helps them understand what people ate and how they lived long ago.
