Adak Island (Alaska)

Adak Island is one of the Aleutian Islands (Andreanof Islands group) in Alaska USA. The port town Adak (population around 400) is USA's westernmost and Alaska's southernmost. The island has length 55 km (34 ml), width 35 km (22 ml) and total land area approx 711 km2 (275 ml2), ranking it USA's 25th largest island. In the "USA top 10" largest Alaskan islands are Kodiak Island, Prince of Wales Island, Chichagof Island, St Lawrence Island, Admiralty Island, Nunivak Island, Unimak Island and Baranof Island.

In Aleutian, the word adak (adaq) means "father". Island's vegetation is at lower elevations only and mostly tundra (no trees) - low-lying flowering plants, berries, grasses, mosses. The weather is harsh - strong winds (gusts in excess of 120 mph / 190 kph), cold temperatures (20-60 F / −7 to 16 C), extensive fogs, frequent clouds, cyclonic storms and rains (260+ rainy days per year). Island's highest elevation point is Mt Moffett (northwest end) - 3924 ft (1196 m).

Adak Island was settled by the Aleut people for thousands of years. In the 18th century, Russian explorers visited for the first time the island but didn't establish permanent settlements. During WW2 (1939-1945), the Japanese Imperial Army took control of the Aleutian Islands Attu and Kiska, from where they air-bombed the US base at Dutch Harbor (Amaknak Island, Unalaska). In response, the USA started a military campaign that required the construction of bases to launch operations from the western Aleutian Islands. Adak was the island chosen for building an airfield (today Adak Airport). Flight operations started in September 1942. In May 1943, US soldiers landed on and conquered Attu Island (2300 Japanese and 550 Americans died in the battle). When US soldiers landed on Kiska Island (August 1943), they found that the Japanese were evacuated by their navy, right after the Adak battle. During WW2, Adak Island was populated by approx 6000 US military personnel.

The town Adak is on Kuluk Bay, located approx 1200 ml (1930 km) southwest of Anchorage AK and approx 450 ml (724 km) west of Dutch Harbor AK. Flight time from Adak to Anchorage is 3+ hours (depending on weather). Adak is on the same latitude as Vancouver Island (BC Canada).

Adak Airport is a state-owned airport located west of Adak Town. The airport is one of Aleutian Islands' largest and most sophisticated. It was built by the US Navy and used mainly for Naval air transportation. It has two runways with lengths 2,4 km (7800 ft) and 2,3 km (7600 ft))Adak Airport currently serves regularly-scheduled flights (by Alaska Airlines) linking to Anchorage AK (Ted Stevens Airport).

Adak Island cruise terminal