Walrus and Kritskoi Islands facts for kids
The Walrus and Kritskoi Islands are a pair of small islands located in the Bering Sea, right off the coast of Alaska. These islands are part of a larger group of small coastal islands known as the Kudobin Islands.
You can find the Walrus and Kritskoi Islands near Nelson Lagoon. They are about 14 kilometers (9 miles) west of Port Moller. These islands are on the southern side of the Alaska Peninsula, close to Bristol Bay.
 Walrus and Kritskoi Islands
Location in Alaska
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°1′42″N 160°49′59″W / 56.02833°N 160.83306°W |
| Length | 22 mi (35 km) |
| Administration | |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Aleutians East |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| ZIP code | 99... |
| Area code | +1 907 |
Contents
Walrus Island
Walrus Island is the biggest of the two islands. It is about 23.5 kilometers (14.6 miles) long and 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) wide. Both Walrus and Kritskoi Islands are very flat. The highest point on Walrus Island is only 1 meter (3.3 feet) above sea level.
How Walrus Island Got Its Name
These islands were given their current names in 1882 by W. H. Dall. He worked for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Before that, in 1836, a Russian captain named Fyodor Petrovich Litke had called Walrus Island "Volchie." This name means "wolf" in Russian. Today, the name "Volchie" is used for the eastern tip of Walrus Island.
Kritskoi Island
Kritskoi Island is also part of the Kudobin Islands. It is located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of the village of Port Moller, Alaska. This island is also found in the Bristol Bay area.
Kritskoi Island is smaller than Walrus Island, measuring only 3.3 kilometers (2.1 miles) long. However, it is a bit taller than Walrus Island, reaching a height of 4 meters (13 feet) above sea level.
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Kritskoi
Location in Alaska
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°1′19″N 160°59′16″W / 56.02194°N 160.98778°W |
| Highest elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Aleutians East |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| ZIP code | 99... |
| Area code | +1 907 |
How Kritskoi Island Got Its Name
Kritskoi Island was named "Kritskoi ile" by Captain Lutke in 1836. He was part of the Russian Navy. On his map (Chart 14), he mistakenly called it "L'ile aux Loups," which also means "wolf island."
