Nelson Island (Alaska)
Encyclopedia
Nelson Island is an island
in the Bethel Census Area
of southwestern Alaska
. It is 42 miles (68 km) long and 20–35 miles (32–56 km) wide. With an area of 843 square miles (2,183 km²), it is the 15th largest island in the United States. It is separated from the Alaska mainland to its north by the Ningaluk River
, to its east by the Kolavinarak River and from Nunivak Island
to its southwest by the Etolin Strait
.
Nelson Island has three villages, all located on the Bering Sea
coast in the southwest part of the island: Tununak
in the west, Toksook Bay
southeast of Tununak, and Nightmute
in the east. A snowmobile trail connects the Tununak and Nightmute in the winter. These three communities comprise the entire population of the island at 1,065 inhabitants as of the 2000 census. The largest community is Toksook Bay. The rest of the island, over 77 percent of its area, is unpopulated.
The village of Newtok
, on the mainland across the Ningaluk River north of the island, is in the process of being moved to Nelson Island, due to erosion of the water table in the area where Newtok is currently located.
The natives are Yupiit who maintain a predominately traditional diet, fishing and hunting musk ox and caribou.
Nelson Island was named after Edward William Nelson
, a Smithsonian Institution
naturalist who studied the island and people there in 1878.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Bethel Census Area
Bethel Census Area, Alaska
Bethel Census Area is a census area located in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2000, the population is 16,006. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
of southwestern 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 42 miles (68 km) long and 20–35 miles (32–56 km) wide. With an area of 843 square miles (2,183 km²), it is the 15th largest island in the United States. It is separated from the Alaska mainland to its north by the Ningaluk River
Ningaluk River
Ningaluk River is a 35 km long river in Alaska. It heads in Baird Inlet, flows west to Hazen Bay, north of Kigigak Island....
, to its east by the Kolavinarak River and from Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island
Nunivak Island , the second largest island in the Bering Sea, is a permafrost-covered volcanic island lying about 30 miles offshore from the delta of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers in the state of Alaska, at about 60° North latitude...
to its southwest by the Etolin Strait
Etolin Strait
Etolin Strait is a strait in the western region of the U.S. state of Alaska, at about . It is between Nunivak Island to its west and Nelson Island and the Alaska mainland to its east...
.
Nelson Island has three villages, all located on the 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....
coast in the southwest part of the island: Tununak
Tununak, Alaska
Tununak is a census-designated place in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 325.-Geography:Tununak is located at ....
in the west, Toksook Bay
Toksook Bay, Alaska
Toksook Bay is a village on Nelson Island in Alaska. As of the 2000 census the population was 532, making it the largest village on the island.Toksook Bay was established in 1964 by residents of nearby Nightmute...
southeast of Tununak, and Nightmute
Nightmute, Alaska
Nightmute is a village in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 208.-Geography:Nightmute is located on Nelson Island near Toksook Bay...
in the east. A snowmobile trail connects the Tununak and Nightmute in the winter. These three communities comprise the entire population of the island at 1,065 inhabitants as of the 2000 census. The largest community is Toksook Bay. The rest of the island, over 77 percent of its area, is unpopulated.
The village of Newtok
Newtok, Alaska
Newtok is a village on the Ninglick River in western Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 321. Erosion is forcing the primarily Yupik Alaska Native village to consider relocation. The town was featured in History Channel's Tougher in Alaska, episode "Dangerous Earth"...
, on the mainland across the Ningaluk River north of the island, is in the process of being moved to Nelson Island, due to erosion of the water table in the area where Newtok is currently located.
The natives are Yupiit who maintain a predominately traditional diet, fishing and hunting musk ox and caribou.
Nelson Island was named after Edward William Nelson
Edward William Nelson
Edward William Nelson was an American naturalist and ethnologist. He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. In 1871 together with his family, he became homeless due to the Chicago Fire....
, a Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
naturalist who studied the island and people there in 1878.