On the Road with Hannah, Part 4: Southwest Excursion
By Hannah Pembroke
Hello again, animal lovers! This week marks the fourth week of our road trip, where we learn about the many beautiful places in Alaska that have been inspired by animals. The Southwest region includes extensive islands, including the Aleutian islands, or the Unangam Tanana, and volcanoes that make up part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. These geographical features present an enriched and unique home for a variety of wildlife, several of which inspired both local Aleut-Altuiiq tribes and foreign explorers in their naming of places. Let’s go!
King Salmon
Photo Credit: tripadvisor.com
Acting as the gateway into Katmai National Park and Preserve, King Salmon is a former military town that is home to grizzlies and volcanic landscapes. The town sits on the north bank of the Nakner River (Central Yup'ik: Nakniq) and was given the name “King Salmon” in 1902 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, it has been the residence to Alaska Natives and a variety of wildlife for centuries. The name King Salmon was inspired by the abundance of salmon in the area. The largest sockeye salmon run is located in a town adjacent to King Salmon, however fly fishing is also extremely popular in the area.
Beluga Lake
Photo Credit: Jimmy Lopes Photography
While this location is named after a whale, a wide variety of waterfowl is actually the dominant wildlife at Beluga Lake. Derived from Russian "white whale," Beluga Lake pays homage to the pods of beluga whales that can be seen throughout the Bering Sea. While the lake was known to Dena’ina people for generations, the Russian inspired name was first mentioned in writing in 1904 by R.W. Stone. Waterways, such as rivers and lakes, are some of the most common landmarks to be named for wildlife. This isn’t surprising when we look at Alaska’s historical dependence on fish and large game for sustenance. As humans have gathered around places such as Beluga Point, the integral relationship between water and wildlife is undeniable.
Fox Islands
Photo credit: Shearwater Cove
Not to be confused with Fox Island, one of our very first stops along this road trip, the Fox Islands are a series of islands in the Aleutians. This area has been home to the Aleut for centuries; in fact, the Anangula Archeological site on Umnak Island (Aleut: Umnax or Umnax, one of the islands of the Fox Islands) is one of the earliest known human settlements in the Aleutian Islands, dating to 6400 BCE. The site is believed to have been along the southern fringe of the Bering land bridge, by which many believe the Americas were first settled. Fox Islands, as they are called today, were given this name by Russian explorers who found the islands while in search of furs to harvest and trade. The population of the islands remains small, with most occupants being Aleut fishing communities. Unalaska, within the Fox Islands, hosts one of the largest fishing ports in the U.S. Surrounded by water and volcanic activity, these islands provide an incredible amount of ocean and water dwelling wildlife.
Kodiak
Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kodiak Island has a long and unique history. Its name is the Russian spelling of the Alutiiq “koniag,” which is the name of the kodiak bear. The kodiak bear plays a unique role in the Alutiiq culture, and even altered the path of Russian explorers and Captain Cook. Due to the importance of this specific animal in regards to place names in Alaska, I will be sharing a longer article dedicated to its history and symbolism. However, we couldn’t skip it for this trip. A wonderful place to fish, hike, and hunt, Kodiak embodies everything it means to be Alaskan.
Thank you for checking in this week for the Southwest leg of our journey! As always, it is a privilege and joy to experience the land around us and to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. If you are interested in aiding our goal of protecting Alaskan wildlife, please take action and visit AWA at https://www.akwildlife.org/take-action-1. See you next week, when we are back on the road with Hannah!
