Voznesenka, Alaska facts for kids
Voznesenka (Russian: Вознесенка) is a small community in the Kenai Peninsula Borough in Alaska, United States. It is about 23 miles northeast of Homer. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and people living together, but it doesn't have its own official local government like a city or town.
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About Voznesenka: A Special Alaskan Village
Voznesenka is located on the Kenai Peninsula, about 22 miles east of Homer. It is one of several villages in the Fox River area founded by Russian Old Believers. These are people who follow a very old form of the Russian Orthodox Christian faith.
How Voznesenka Started
The village of Voznesenka was founded in 1985. Its first residents decided to leave another village called Nikolaevsk. They wanted to start new settlements in the Kachemak Bay area. The name "Voznesenka" comes from a Russian word meaning Ascension. This refers to a special religious holiday called the Feast of the Ascension.
Life in the Village
Voznesenka sits on a high area overlooking Kachemak Bay. It is at the very end of the main road system on the western Kenai Peninsula. A winding trail goes about 1,000 feet down to the beach. You can walk or use a 4-wheel drive vehicle on this trail. It leads to the nearby village of Kachemak Selo.
More than 40 families live in Voznesenka. Even though it's not an official city, the community has its own leaders. There is a mayor, a community council, and a group that manages the water system. The village also has a community church and a public school. About 115 students attend the school. For a while, the community even had wrestling and football teams!
Getting Around and Safety
Voznesenka can be reached by a gravel road. The paved road from Homer ends right where the village begins. Emergency help is provided by Kachemak Emergency Services. In 2009, a large fire called the Mile 17 fire came close to the village. Besides Voznesenka, there are two other villages where Russian Old Believers live: Razdolna and Kachemak Selo.
