Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Tools for finding the names of towns, bays, points, islands, lighthouses and other landmarks

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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

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pommystuart
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by pommystuart »

VSEVIDOF ISLAND, Alaska
52 ° 58' 54" N, 168 ° 28' 34" W
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Hanibal94
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Randi »

Point Wedge (11:50 https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 3_0022.JPG) is probably Cape Wedge.
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AvastMH
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

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Belvedere (ODHS222 tape) 12th August 1898

Pingarsookrook

yet another version of Pingoshugarun :)

Thanks Matteo :)
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AvastMH
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by AvastMH »

Cape Halkett 70.80278 -152.18806

Belvedere August 25th 1897 notes this place simply as

Halcut

Orca, same date, notes this place as

Cape Halket

:)
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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Randi »

Interesting bit of background from https://alaska-native-news.com/shelikof ... 7th/56495/:
Imarpiaq – Shelikof Strait
Imarpiamen qayanilu. – Don’t kayak in Shelikof Strait
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AvastMH
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

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Randi wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:17 pm Interesting bit of background from https://alaska-native-news.com/shelikof ... 7th/56495/:
Imarpiaq – Shelikof Strait
Imarpiamen qayanilu. – Don’t kayak in Shelikof Strait
:o I promise to relinquish all foolish thoughts of kayaking there. Too cold, and too deep, and too scary by half!
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AvastMH
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by AvastMH »

Another mystery place from Navarch 18th August 1894

Sand Islands

The ship left Return Reef (at the Return Islands) and headed down to Flaxman's Island passing 'Sand Islands on the way. There are many islands in that area but I could not trace Sand Island(s). The logkeeper's writing and spelling are not at all helpful :(
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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Randi »

Ugalgan Island is Egg Island (2) https://www.geonames.org/5861430/egg-island.html
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ggordon
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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Randi »

Ugamak Island is also called Ugamok Island :roll:
https://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/image=3N8800-01b


Kolekta Head is Cape Kalekta
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Hanibal94
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Hanibal94 »

Go a tough one here: At 05:04, a place that looks like "Mock Island" or "Moch Island" is mentioned, and it has a lighthouse
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 6-0024.JPG

From other entries on the page, I know this is the area where Lynn Canal meets Icy Strait, and I think it's one of the small islands just NE of Couverden Island, but as far as I can tell - none of those small islands have names - Google Maps, OpenStreetMaps, and Geonames don't have any, and I tried looking at charts and a geographic dictionary, still no luck.

Any help would be much appreciated.
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Michael
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Michael »

Very bad writing. He wrote Rock Island, but it's Rocky Island. They almost always refer to this point when rounding the corner between Icy Strait and the Lynn Canal.

Rocky Island, 58.177, -135.052
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Hanibal94
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Hanibal94 »

Wow, you're right - now that you mention it, I can see it's an R and not an M!
Many thanks!
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Matteo
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Matteo »

A little late, but i've added all (except one) the last places to the database and they will soon appear on reference thread

Thanks everyone for all the contributions!!

@Joan: Cant find mention of Sand Islands anywhere, those groups (Midway, McClure, Stockton, Maguire) have apparently been called as such since a long time, and before that the area was simply blank... this 1890 map, too large, does not show any Sand Islands: https://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/image=4d031-90

I suspect the logkeeper could just refer:
a) to the whole arc of sandy islands protecting Prudhoe, Foggy Island and Mikkelsen bays
b) to some kind of sand group/chain composed by Cross Island and the actual Dinkum Sands (which does not appear on old maps or it's just a little sand mound emerging from the sea).
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AvastMH
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by AvastMH »

Matteo wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:59 pm @Joan: Cant find mention of Sand Islands anywhere, those groups (Midway, McClure, Stockton, Maguire) have apparently been called as such since a long time, and before that the area was simply blank... this 1890 map, too large, does not show any Sand Islands: https://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/image=4d031-90

I suspect the logkeeper could just refer:
a) to the whole arc of sandy islands protecting Prudhoe, Foggy Island and Mikkelsen bays
b) to some kind of sand group/chain composed by Cross Island and the actual Dinkum Sands (which does not appear on old maps or it's just a little sand mound emerging from the sea).
I feel just the same about the Maikel. It's a commonly used, but not formal, whaler ship's name for that string of sandy islands/shoals etc that probably shift somewhat year to year. Not to worry. I'll nip back and put a transcriber's note in the transcription workbook to that effect. Thanks ever so for looking. :)
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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

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Hanibal94
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Hanibal94 »

There apparently was a lighthouse on or near The Twins, by Sitka, according to the 1308 entry on this page:
https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/med ... 9-0044.JPG
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Randi
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Re: Alaskan Place Names -- Discussion

Post by Randi »

Looking at https://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/image=8244-7-1944, the codes seem to show that the Twin has a flashing light every 3 seconds.

United States Coast Pilot: Southeast Alaska. Dixon Entrance to Yakutat Bay, 1952:
https://books.google.com/books?id=McRrA ... ht&f=false
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