Aleutian Islands

Aleutian Islands, chain of about 150 small islands, south-western Alaska, separating the northern Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea. The archipelago extends about 1,930 km (1,200 mi) west from the Alaska Peninsula towards the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. The four main sub-groups of the Aleutian Islands from east to west are the Fox Islands, Andreanof Islands, Rat Islands, and Near Islands.

Geologically, the archipelago is a continuation of the Aleutian Range, which is on the Alaskan mainland, and contains a number of volcanic peaks. Shishaldin (2,869 m/9,414 ft), on Unimak Island, is the highest volcano. Few trees, all of stunted growth, are found, but grasses grow in abundance. Although a few good harbours are found in the archipelago, navigation is dangerous because of almost perpetual fog and numerous reefs. In 1850 the navigator Robert McClure, commanding the ship Investigator, made a daring pass northwards through the centre of the Aleutians, saving several days and hundreds of kilometres from the standard route around them.

The native people, known as Aleuts, belong to the Eskimo-Aleut language family and are generally classified ethnologically as Native North Americans. Fishing, hunting, and sheep raising are the principal pursuits of the inhabitants. The chief trade centre is Unalaska, on the island of Unalaska. The Aleutians were visited in 1741 by the Russian navigator Alexey Ilich Chirikov and Vitus Bering, a Danish navigator in the service of Russia. During World War II, in June 1942, Japanese forces occupied Attu and Kiska islands in the Aleutians, but were forced to surrender them to US forces the following year.