Delarof Islands
Encyclopedia
The Delarof Islands (ca. 51°23′13"N 178°57′47"W) are a group of small islands at the extreme western end of the Andreanof Islands
group in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska
. The Delarofs consist of 11 named islands: Amatignak
, Gareloi
, Ilak
, Kavalga (Qavalĝa), Ogliuga (Aglaga), Skagul (Sxaĝulax̂), the Tags (Tagachaluĝis), Tanadak (Tanaadax̂), Ugidak (Qagan-tanax̂), Ulak
, and Unalga (Unalĝa).
These islands are separated from the remainder of the Andreanofs by Tanaga Pass
to the east and from Amchitka
and Semisopochnoi (the easternmost of the Rat Islands
) by Amchitka Pass to the west. All of these islands are managed as part of the Aleutian Islands Unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
. The Delarof Islands together have a land area of 63.842 sq mi (165.349 km²). None of the islands are populated.
The Delarof Islands were named in 1836 by Captain Fyodor Petrovich Litke of the Imperial Russian Navy
. He named them after Greek-born administrator Eustrate Ivanovich Delarof (also spelled Evstratii Ivanovich Delarov), who was the chief manager of the Shelikhov-Golikov Company (precursor of the Russian-American Company
) from 1787 to 1791.
Andreanof Islands
The Andreanof Islands are a group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. They are located between Amchitka Pass and the Rat Islands group to the west, and Amukta Pass and the Islands of Four Mountains group to the east, at about 52° North and 172°57' to 179°09' West. The islands...
group in the central Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. The Delarofs consist of 11 named islands: Amatignak
Amatignak Island
Amatignak Island is a member of the Delarof Islands , in Alaska's Aleutian archipelago. The south-most point of Alaska is on this island, as well as the highest western longitude of the United States and North America....
, Gareloi
Gareloi Island
Gareloi is a volcanic island in the Delarof Islands of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is located between the Tanaga Pass and the Amchitka Pass....
, Ilak
Ilak Island
Ilak Island is a small island in the eastern Delarof Islands, Aleutian Islands of Alaska.Ilak island is only across. Its highest point is .Its name was recorded by Commodore Joseph Billings as "Illuk," and published by Lt...
, Kavalga (Qavalĝa), Ogliuga (Aglaga), Skagul (Sxaĝulax̂), the Tags (Tagachaluĝis), Tanadak (Tanaadax̂), Ugidak (Qagan-tanax̂), Ulak
Ulak Island
Ulak Island is an island in the Delarof Islands subgroup of the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands chain of Alaska.Ulak is roughly 4 mi northwest of Amatignak Island.- External Links :*...
, and Unalga (Unalĝa).
These islands are separated from the remainder of the Andreanofs by Tanaga Pass
Tanaga Pass
The Tanaga Pass is a strait between Tanaga Island and the Delarof Islands the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is about 40 miles long and 13 miles wide at its narrowest part. Tidal currents commonly range between 2 and 3 knots in the pass.From the U.S...
to the east and from Amchitka
Amchitka
Amchitka is a volcanic, tectonically unstable island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska. It is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The island is about long, and from wide...
and Semisopochnoi (the easternmost of the Rat Islands
Rat Islands
The Rat Islands are a volcanic group of islands in the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska, between Buldir Island and the Near Islands group to its west, and Amchitka Pass and the Andreanof Islands group to its east, at about ....
) by Amchitka Pass to the west. All of these islands are managed as part of the Aleutian Islands Unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge comprising 2,400 islands, headlands, rocks, islets, spires and reefs in Alaska, with a total area of , of which is wilderness)...
. The Delarof Islands together have a land area of 63.842 sq mi (165.349 km²). None of the islands are populated.
The Delarof Islands were named in 1836 by Captain Fyodor Petrovich Litke of the Imperial Russian Navy
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
. He named them after Greek-born administrator Eustrate Ivanovich Delarof (also spelled Evstratii Ivanovich Delarov), who was the chief manager of the Shelikhov-Golikov Company (precursor of the Russian-American Company
Russian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
) from 1787 to 1791.