Adak Island

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Adak Island 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 an area of 450 km²; (280 square miles) and is located at latitude [51°52′47″N, 176°39′28″W]. Due to harsh winds, frequent cloud cover, and cold temperatures, very little vegetation grows on Adak Island. 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. 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. Attacks against the Japanese, including major Army ground assaults, were successful, and by the end of 1943 the Japanese had been defeated in the Aleutian Islands. Afterwards, the island was used for signals intelligence as Adak Island represented the closest US soil to Japanese military facilities in the Kurile Islands.

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 now hosts about 300 residents. 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 51 52' 37.07" N, 176 38' 55.00" W.

Education

Adak is served by the Aleutian Region Schools.

The Adak School serves grades K-12.

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