This is a big island. 
This is a big island in Alaska.
It has many tall trees and mountains. The air is often wet and foggy. This moisture helps the green forests grow.
Many animals live there. You might see a black bear. You might see a moose too.
Whales and seals swim in the water. Some small animals live only on this island. They live nowhere else on Earth.
People live in small towns here. Some people fish in the sea. It is a busy place for fishing.
Prince of Wales Island is a large island in Alaska.
The island has many steep mountains and thick forests. Most of the land is part of the Tongass National Forest. The weather is often wet and foggy. You might see deep holes in the ground made of limestone. One place is called El Capitan Pit. It may be the deepest vertical shaft in the country.
Many animals live in the woods. You can find black bears and moose. Some animals live only here. The Prince of Wales flying squirrel is one of them. In the ocean, you can see whales and sea otters.
About 6,000 people live on the island. They live in small towns like Craig and Klawock. Many people work in fishing. They catch salmon, crab, and shrimp. Other people work in logging or tourism. People use ferries and planes to travel to and from the island.
Prince of Wales Island is a huge part of the Alaska Panhandle. It sits within the Alexander Archipelago. This island is the fourth-largest in the United States. It is also the 97th-largest island in the whole world.
The land is very rugged and green. Steep mountains and deep fjords cover the terrain. Many of the mountains were shaped by old glaciers. The weather is often wet and misty. Fog and marine layers are very common here. There are also many limestone areas. One spot is the El Capitan Pit. This might be the deepest vertical shaft in the United States.
The Tlingit people call this island Taan. This name means "sea lion." It has always been Tlingit territory. Later, the Haida people moved into the area. European explorers arrived many years ago. Aleksei Chirikov made the first recorded landfall in 1741. Later, Juan Pérez arrived in 1774. Captain James Cook passed by in 1779. George Vancouver gave the archipelago its name in 1793. He named it after the Prince of Wales.
Many different animals live on the island. Some are found nowhere else on Earth. These include the Prince of Wales flying squirrel. You can also find the Prince of Wales Island ermine. Large animals like moose and grizzly bears live in the woods. In the water, you might see humpback whales. Orcas and sea otters swim in the ocean too.
People work in many different ways. Fishing is a very important job for many towns. People catch salmon, crab, and shrimp. Logging was also a major job for a long time. Some people work in tourism by hiking or camping. Towns like Craig and Klawock are centers for these activities. To get around, people use ferries or small planes. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority provides daily trips to Ketchikan.
Prince of Wales Island is a major landmass in the Alaska Panhandle. It sits within the Alexander Archipelago. This island is the fourth-largest in the United States. It is also the 97th-largest island globally. The island belongs to the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area. Most of the land is part of the Tongass National Forest. Other protected areas include the Karta River Wilderness and the South Prince of Wales Wilderness.
The physical geography is defined by rugged and steep terrain. Many mountains on the island were shaped by Pleistocene glaciation. These glaciers buried most of the mountains except for the tallest peaks. The landscape features deep fjords and dense forests. Large areas of limestone create karst features. One notable site is the El Capitan Pit. This vertical shaft may be the deepest in the United States. The weather is dominated by moist, maritime conditions. This means that fog and marine layers are regular occurrences.
History on the island began with the indigenous Tlingit people. Their name for the island is Taan, which means "sea lion." This area is traditional Tlingit territory. The Haida people migrated into the region during the late 18th century. European contact began in 1741 with Aleksei Chirikov. He made the first recorded European landfall at Baker Island. Other explorers arrived later, including Juan Pérez in 1774 and Captain James Cook in 1779. In 1793, George Vancouver named the archipelago. He named it after George, the Prince of Wales. By 1825, the name "Prince of Wales Island" became common for this specific landmass.
Biology on the island is incredibly diverse. Some species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else. These include the Prince of Wales flying squirrel and the Prince of Wales Island ermine. Large mammals like the American black bear and grizzly bear live in the forests. Other land animals include moose, mountain goats, and gray wolves. The surrounding waters support a rich marine ecosystem. You can find humpback whales, orcas, and sea otters there. Marine mammals like Dall's porpoises and Steller sea lions also inhabit these waters.
The economy has shifted through different eras of resource extraction. In the late 19th century, settlers began mining gold and copper. They used various methods to find these metals. Some mines exploited gold-bearing quartz veins in metamorphic rocks. Others targeted skarns or VMS deposits. Uranium was also mined at Bokan Mountain during the 1950s and 1970s. Throughout much of the 20th century, logging was the primary industry. This industry declined in the late 20th century. Today, only a few small-scale sawmills remain in operation.
Modern economic life relies heavily on fishing and tourism. Commercial fishing supports many towns, including Craig and Klawock. During summer, crews catch five species of Pacific salmon. They also harvest halibut, black cod, and Dungeness crab. Tourism is growing because of better access to the land. Old logging roads now allow people to hike and camp. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority also makes travel easier. About 6,000 people live on the island today. Craig is the largest community with 1,500 residents. Klawock is another important village with about 900 people.
Transportation on the island is a mix of sea, air, and land. A road system exists, though many parts are now being decommissioned. Most of these roads are gravel rather than paved. Some communities, like Port Protection, choose not to use the roads. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority provides a three-hour daily service to Ketchikan. For air travel, Klawock is the only airport on the island. Many people also use seaplane bases or air taxis. This combination of methods connects the isolated communities to the rest of Alaska.
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