Everything about Adak Island totally explained
Adak Island (
Adaax in
Aleut) is an
island near the western extent of the
Andreanof Islands group of the
Aleutian Islands in
Alaska. Alaska's southernmost town,
Adak, is located on the island. The island has a land area of 711.18
km² (274.59
square miles), making it the
25th largest island in the United States. Adak is located at latitude . Due to harsh winds, frequent cloud cover, and cold temperatures, vegetation is mostly
tundra (grasses, mosses, berries, low-lying flowering plants) at lower elevations. The highest point is Mt. Moffett at an elevation of 3,924 feet (1,196 meters).
The word
Adak is from the
Aleut word
adaq, which means "father."
History
Adak Island has been the home to
Aleut peoples since ancient times.
Russian explorers in the 1700s also visited the island but made no permanent settlements. During
World War II, the
Imperial Japanese Army took control of two of the most western Aleutian Islands -
Attu and
Kiska. The Japanese also attacked the American base at Dutch Harbor by air. In response, the United States military began a campaign to unseat the invaders. Since the nearest US military presence was in
Cold Bay, Alaska, the military began to construct bases in the western Aleutian Islands from which to launch operations against the Japanese. Adak Island was chosen as the site of an airfield, and flight operations began in September
1942. In May, 1943, American soldiers landed on Attu Island and defeated the Japanese garrison there, with 2,300 Japanese and 550 American deaths recorded. Expecting a similar battle for Kiska Island, soldiers landing there found that the occupiers had been stealthily evacuated by Japanese naval forces. Even so, over 313 American soldiers died from friendly fire, mines, and other anti-personnel devices.
After the war was over, the approximately 6,000 American military men who served on Adak at the height of World War II activity would recall Adak's cold, foggy, windy weather; mud; Quonset huts; few women and no trees; and a volcano that from time to time would issue puffs of smoke. Fresh food was a rarity.
Adak Naval Air Station continued to be a military base during the Cold War but was designated a
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) site in 1995 and closed in March
1997. Shortly thereafter, the town of
Adak, Alaska, was incorporated at the site of the former base. Down from a peak population of 6000, the island recorded a
2000 census population of 316 residents, all in the city of Adak, in the northern part of the island. In 1980, the
Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge was created and much of Adak Island lies within its boundaries.
The January 2006
National Geographic magazine presents pictures of the
Sea-based X-band Radar in tow around
Cape Horn to Adak for the purpose of anti-ballistic missile space surveillance. This operation may require 100 well-paid technicians.
Google Earth pictures the long-time Naval Air Base infrastructure to be located at .
Education
Adak is served by the
Aleutian Region Schools.
The Adak School serves grades K-12.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Adak Island'.
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