Information About

Alaska Peninsula

Quick Facts

Open in The Map Alaska Peninsula on The Map

Location

57 ° 10' 0.001" N,
157 ° 30' 0" W

Region

Lake and Peninsula

Nearest City

Egegik

Elevation

1604 ft (488.9 m)

Alaska Peninsula in Detail.

About

Incomplete record - should be at least 158 maps, LATLONGs truncated in Phase I by GIPSY - 9512. Extends SW from Lliamma Lake to Unimak I. 475 miles long.

History

Authoritative sources generally agree that the name "Alaska" is derived from "an Aleut root meaning 'a great country or continent'* * *" or "* * *' mainland'* * *" (Stewart, 1956, p193-193). In 1762, Bechevin (complete name not available), a merchant of Irkutsk, Siberia, wintered in Isanotski Strait between Unimak I., and the Alaska Peninsula. He regarded the western end of the peninsula as an island, reportedly called "Alaksu" or "Alakshak" (Bancroft, 1886, p122-124 and 165). Captain Lieutenant P. K. Krenitzin and Lieutenant M. Levashev, Imperial Russian Navy (IRN), in 1768, also referred to a large island called "Alaxa" northeast of Unimak Island (Coxe, 1787, map facing p. 205). The first to correctly apply to the name was Captain James Cook (1785, v2, p504), RN, in 1778, who said "I have already observed that the American continent is here called by the Russians, as well as the islanders, Alaschka, which name, though it properly belongs only the country adjoining to Oonemak (Uminak Island), is used by them

Places Near Alaska Peninsula
Capes:

Alaska Peninsula,

Lakes:

Mother Goose Lake,

Streams:

Old Creek, Painter Creek, Pumice Creek,