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'Nunivak Island', the second largest island in the Bering Sea, is a permafrost-covered volcanic island lying about 48 km (30 miles) offshore from the delta of the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers in the state of Alaska, at about 60° North latitude. Nunivak Island is 4,226.78 km² (1,631.97 sq mi, or 1.044 million acres) in area with a population of 210 persons as of the 2000 census. The island's entire population lived in the north coast city of Mekoryuk.^[1]

Contents

People

Geology and natural history

Notes

External links

People

Nunivak has only one permanent settlement, Mekoryuk, on the north shore, with about 200 residents. In the 1880 United States Census, Ivan Petrof recorded 702 residents in nine villages on the island. An epidemic in 1900 decimated the population of the island. Outmigration keeps the population small and all the current residents live in Mekoryuk.
Nearly all the permanent residents of Nunivak are Cup'it Eskimo, whose traditional language is a dialect of Central Alaskan Yup'ik known as Cup'ig. Cup'ig is a first language for many older islanders, and is enjoying a dedicated revival among younger islanders as well, although nearly all ''Nuniwarmiut'' (Nunivak people) speak English. The people of Nunivak Island still depend to a large degree on subsistence hunting, and also commercial fishing and industrial work on the mainland.

Geology and natural history

Nunivak Island is volcanic in origin; most of the island is dominated by volcanic plateau 160 m (500 feet) or more above sea level. The island is dotted with about 60 cinder cones and four maars. Much of its surface consists of widespread, thin flows of pahoehoe lava from small shield volcanoes, which spread over sedimentary rock of the Cretaceous period. Volcanic eruptions took place during 5 periods of activity beginning 6.1 million years ago. Most of the volcanic field was formed during two eruptive periods during the Pleistocene ending about 300,000 years ago, but volcanic activity continued into the Holocene.^[2][3]
Tundra is the main landscape feature; the largest trees on Nunivak are dwarf willow trees, most less than 1.2 m (4 feet) tall. More than 40 rivers drain the tundra upland. Brackish lagoons ring the eastern and southern shores, and steep volcanic cliffs dominate the northwest shores.
At least 89 migratory seabird and waterfowl species have seasonal homes on Nunivak Island, including several endangered and threatened species. Dense summer breeding rookeries are found on all shores of the island and in inland tundra lakes.
Prehistorically, Nunivak was home to a modest herd of caribou, but these were exterminated after the introduction of firearms in the late 19th or early 20th century. United States Fish and Wildlife introduced reindeer and musk ox onto the island in the 1930s and 1940s. Large herds of these animals are maintained by the local Native Corporation of Mekoryuk.
Most of the island is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Notes

1. Block 1038 thru Block 1044, Block Group 1, Census Tract 1, Bethel Census Area United States Census Bureau
2. Nunivak Island
3. Nunivak Island description and statistics

External links

★ Summer Field Science Camp UAF Kuskokwim Campus

★ Photo Slide-show Science Field Camp

★ Nuniwarmiut Piciryarata Tamaryalkuti 'Nunivak Cultural Programs

★ Rural Development on Nunivak

★ Nunavik Island Project Jukebok