Adak Island

Adak Island
Native name:
Adaax
Adak Island is located in Alaska
Adak Island
Adak Island
Location in Alaska
Geography
LocationBering Sea
Coordinates51°47′N 176°38′W / 51.78°N 176.64°W / 51.78; -176.64
Area274.6 sq mi (711 km2)
Area rank25th largest island in the United States
Length32.67 mi (52.58 km)
Width21.7 mi (34.9 km)
Highest elevation3,924 ft (1196 m)
Administration
Largest settlementAdak (pop. 326)
Demographics
Population45 (2022)
Pop. density0.84/km2 (2.18/sq mi)

Adak Island (Aleut: Adaax,[1][2] Russian: Адак) or Father Island is an island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Alaska's southernmost city, Adak, is located on the island. The island has a land area of 274.59 square miles (711.18 km2), measuring 33.9 miles (54.5 km) long and 22 miles (35 km) wide, making it the 25th largest island in the United States.

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 Mount Moffett, near the northwest end of the island, at an elevation of 3,924 feet (1,196 m). It is snow covered the greater part of the year. Adak is its largest and principal city.

The word Adak is from the Aleut word adaq, which means "father".

  1. ^ Bergsland, K. (1994). Aleut Dictionary. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center.
  2. ^ "Alaska Native Place Names". University of Alaska, Fairbanks.