Puffin Island, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Puffin Island is a rocky islet in the Kotzebue Sound
, Alaska
. It is located off Spafarief Bay
at the mouth of Eschscholtz Bay
, just south of the Choris Peninsula
, in the Northwest Arctic Borough
at 66°13′40"N 161°51′31"W.
This island is located 3.3 km (2.1 mi) NW of Chamisso Island
, 58 mi (93.3 km) . SW of Selawik
, Kotzebue-Kobuk Low
. Puffin Island is a steep rock and, though much smaller than Chamisso Island, it has many more nesting birds on its surface, especially horned puffin
s. Both islands are part of the Chamisso Wilderness
in the Chukchi Sea unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
.
This island was named in 1826 by Captain Frederick William Beechey
(1831, p. 255), RN. He wrote, "Detached from Chamisso there is a steep rock which by way of distinction we named Puffin Island."
Puffin Island has been a Natural Reserve since December 7, 1912. The protected area (Chamisso Wilderness) includes Chamisso Island and Puffin Island, as well as some rocky islets nearby.
Kotzebue Sound
Kotzebue Sound is an arm of the Chukchi Sea in the western region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is on the north side of the Seward Peninsula and bounded the east by the Baldwin Peninsula. It is long and wide....
, 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 off Spafarief Bay
Spafarief Bay
Spafarief Bay is a bay in the Kotzebue Sound, on the Chukchi Sea-facing coast of Alaska. Its size is 15 mi. across. There is a lagoon at its southern end....
at the mouth of Eschscholtz Bay
Eschscholtz Bay
Eschscholtz Bay is an arm of Kotzebue Sound, on the Chukchi Sea-facing coast of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is only eleven miles wide.It is located on the northern coast of the Seward Peninsula, 45 miles southwest of Selawik; Kotzebue-Kobuk Low. ....
, just south of the Choris Peninsula
Choris Peninsula
The Choris Peninsula is a cape in Alaska. It is located in the east of the Kotzebue Sound on the Chukchi Sea coast.The Choris Peninsula is a small landhead pointing southwards. Off its southern tip lies Chamisso Island....
, in the Northwest Arctic Borough
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chamisso Wilderness* Bering Land Bridge National Preserve * Cape Krusenstern National Monument* Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
at 66°13′40"N 161°51′31"W.
This island is located 3.3 km (2.1 mi) NW of Chamisso Island
Chamisso Island
Chamisso Island is a small island in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. It is located off Spafarief Bay at the mouth of Eschscholtz Bay, just south of the Choris Peninsula....
, 58 mi (93.3 km) . SW of Selawik
Selawik
Selawik may refer to:* Selawik, Alaska* Selawik Lake* Selawik River* Selawik National Wildlife Refuge...
, Kotzebue-Kobuk Low
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chamisso Wilderness* Bering Land Bridge National Preserve * Cape Krusenstern National Monument* Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
. Puffin Island is a steep rock and, though much smaller than Chamisso Island, it has many more nesting birds on its surface, especially horned puffin
Horned Puffin
The Horned Puffin is an auk, similar in appearance to the Atlantic Puffin; this bird's bill is yellow at the base and red at the tip. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often with other auks.The yellow bill plate grows before the breeding...
s. Both islands are part of the Chamisso Wilderness
Chamisso Wilderness
Chamisso Wilderness is a wilderness area in the U.S. state of Alaska. It was designated by the United States Congress in 1975.A small subunit of the Chukchi Sea Unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Chamisso Island and nearby Puffin Island were combined as a wildlife refuge in...
in the Chukchi 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)...
.
This island was named in 1826 by Captain Frederick William Beechey
Frederick William Beechey
Frederick William Beechey was an English naval officer and geographer. He was the son of Sir William Beechey, RA., and was born in London.-Career:...
(1831, p. 255), RN. He wrote, "Detached from Chamisso there is a steep rock which by way of distinction we named Puffin Island."
Puffin Island has been a Natural Reserve since December 7, 1912. The protected area (Chamisso Wilderness) includes Chamisso Island and Puffin Island, as well as some rocky islets nearby.