Aleutian Islands Trivia Quiz

Answer: 172° E and 163° W

Since the chain crosses longitude 180°, the Aleutian Islands contain both the westernmost and easternmost points in the United States. Although the chain passes through 15 degrees of longitude, all of the islands are located within three degrees of latitude (52° N and 55° N).

Answer: Alaska Peninsula and Kamchatka Peninsula

The Aleutian Islands extend westward for 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) from the United States' Alaska Peninsula to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. There are approximately 300 Aleutian Islands that occupy a total area of 6,821 square miles (17,666 sq km).

Answer: The largest island of the the Commander Islands is Medny Island.

The largest island of the Commander Islands shares its name (Bering Island) with the body of water (Bering Sea) that the islands are located in. In spite of being located hundreds of miles west of the nearest Aleutian Islands, the Commander Islands are considered part of the chain because they share much of the geologic origins with the rest of the Aleutian Islands.

Answer: Pacific Ring of Fire

The Pacific Ring of Fire is by far the most seismic region on Earth with over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes lying in the region. The region extends in a horseshoe shape around the continents of South America, North America, Asia and Australia. Information about the Ring of Fire was obtained from http://geography.about.com/cs/earthquakes/a/ringoffire.htm.

Answer: Catherine Archipelago

As you may have guessed, the Aleutian Islands were originally named after Catherine II of Russia (nicknamed Catherine the Great). The Catherine Islands became the Aleutian Islands in 1867 when the United States purchased Alaska from Russia.

Answer: Bear Islands

The five major groups of the Aleutian Islands are the Fox Islands, Islands of Four Mountains, Andreanof Islands, Rat Islands, and Near Islands. The Fox Islands are located closer to the North American mainland than any of the other island groups.

Answer: Unalaska Island

Unalaska Island, located in the Fox Island group, is the 14th largest island in the United States. Approximately half of the population of the entire Aleutian Islands lives on Unalaska Island. Makushin Volcano is the highest point on Unalaska Island, and its name is derived from a Russian word meaning 'the crown.'

Answer: Unimak Island

Unimak Island is the ninth largest island of the United States, and it contains Mount Shishaldin, one of the ten most active volcanoes on Earth. The entire population of Unimak Island lives in a settlement called False Pass.

Answer: Unangan

Aleut is also the name of the language spoken by many of the Aleut people who often also speak English and Russian. For the Aleut hunters, a man's position in society is based on the type of headgear that he wears. For more information about the Aleut, reference the site http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/croads/aleut.html.

Answer: Hunting of sea otters and fur seals

It is believed that the sea otter and fur seal pelts were primarily used to produce clothing. Siberian fur hunters and large companies like the Shelikhov Company were the main culprits in the exploitation of the Aleut people. For more information about the Russian influence in the Aleutian Islands, reference the site http://alaskamaritime.fws.gov/historyculture/pre1800s.htm.