Besboro Island
Encyclopedia
Besboro Island is a small island in the Norton Sound
, Bering Sea
, off the shores of Alaska
. It is located 11 miles (17.7 km) west of the mainland and 38 miles (61.2 km) miles south west of Christmas Mountain, Nulato Hills.
Besboro island stretches from north to south and is only 2 miles in length and a half mile across at its widest. It is, however very craggy, rising up to a height of 903 feet (275.2 m). Administratively this island belongs to the Nome Census Area, Alaska
. It is owned by the Unalakleet Native Corporation (90%) and the Shaktoolik Native Corporation (10%). It is used by the locals for subsistence and recreational activities and by deep water vessels for safe harbor in stormy weather. The tidal sand spit that stretches off the northeast corner is a haul out area for seal.
This island was named on September 12, 1778 by Captain James Cook
(1785, v. 2, p. 479), RN, who published it as "Besborough Island." It is part of the Bering Sea unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
.
Norton Sound
Norton Sound is an inlet of the Bering Sea on the western coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, south of the Seward Peninsula. It is about 240 km long and 200 km wide. The Yukon River delta forms a portion of the south shore and water from the Yukon influences this body of water...
, Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, off the shores of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is located 11 miles (17.7 km) west of the mainland and 38 miles (61.2 km) miles south west of Christmas Mountain, Nulato Hills.
Besboro island stretches from north to south and is only 2 miles in length and a half mile across at its widest. It is, however very craggy, rising up to a height of 903 feet (275.2 m). Administratively this island belongs to the Nome Census Area, Alaska
Nome Census Area, Alaska
Nome Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,196. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat. Its largest community by far is the city of Nome....
. It is owned by the Unalakleet Native Corporation (90%) and the Shaktoolik Native Corporation (10%). It is used by the locals for subsistence and recreational activities and by deep water vessels for safe harbor in stormy weather. The tidal sand spit that stretches off the northeast corner is a haul out area for seal.
This island was named on September 12, 1778 by Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
(1785, v. 2, p. 479), RN, who published it as "Besborough Island." It is part of the Bering Sea unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge comprising 2,400 islands, headlands, rocks, islets, spires and reefs in Alaska, with a total area of , of which is wilderness)...
.