Yakutat Bay facts for kids
Yakutat Bay is a large bay in Alaska, a state in the United States. It stretches about 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide. The bay extends from Disenchantment Bay all the way to the Gulf of Alaska. The name "Yakutat" comes from the Tlingit people. It was first written down as "Jacootat" and "Yacootat" by explorer Yuri Lisianski in 1805.
Yakutat Bay was the center of two big earthquakes on September 10, 1899. First, there was a magnitude 7.4 earthquake. Then, just 37 minutes later, a much stronger magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit.
A Russian trading company, the Shelikhov-Golikov company, settled in Yakutat Bay in 1795. This company was a early version of the Russian-American Company. Alexander Andreyevich Baranov was in charge of this settlement. It was known by names like New Russia, Yakutat Colony, or Slavorossiya.
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What is Yakutat Bay?
Yakutat Bay is a large inlet of the sea. It is located in the southeastern part of Alaska. The bay is surrounded by tall, glacier-carved mountains. These mountains show how powerful glaciers were in shaping the land.
History of Yakutat Bay's Names
Yakutat Bay has been known by many different names throughout history. Explorers from various countries gave it new names as they discovered it.
Early European Names for Yakutat Bay
- In 1778, Captain James Cook called it "Bering Bay."
- In 1786, French explorer Jean-François de La Pérouse visited the bay. He named it "Baie de Monti" after one of his officers.
- In the same year, Captain Nathaniel Portlock named it "Admiralty Bay."
- The Spanish explorers later called it "Almirantazgo," which means "Admiralty" in Spanish.
- When Alessandro Malaspina and José de Bustamante y Guerra sailed into the bay, they called it "Port Mulgrave."
- Russian explorer Yuri Lisyansky visited in 1805. He recorded the Tlingit name as "Jacootat" or "Yacootat."
Earthquakes in Yakutat Bay
Yakutat Bay is known for its powerful earthquakes. The area is located near active fault lines. This means that the Earth's plates are moving there.
The 1899 Earthquakes
On September 10, 1899, two very strong earthquakes happened near Yakutat Bay.
- The first earthquake was a magnitude 7.4. This is called a "foreshock" because it happened before the main, larger earthquake.
- Just 37 minutes later, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck. This was the "main shock." Earthquakes of this size are very powerful and can cause a lot of damage.
Russian Settlement in Yakutat Bay
In the late 1700s, Russian traders came to Alaska. They were interested in the valuable fur trade.
New Russia Colony
- In 1795, the Shelikhov-Golikov company set up a trading post in Yakutat Bay.
- This company was a very early version of the Russian-American Company. This company later became very important in Russian America.
- Alexander Andreyevich Baranov was a key leader for the Russian traders. He managed the settlement at Yakutat Bay.
- The Russian settlement was known by several names. These included New Russia, Yakutat Colony, and Slavorossiya.
