Adak Island, May 2006
In 2006, after dumping off our baby daughter at Glacier Bay for the summer, Cathy and I
flew down the Aleutian Islands as far as we could. We got to Adak Island.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adak_Island
That is a pretty weird place. Around 60 people live there now. There used to be over 6000 people there,
primarily in the Naval Air Base. Now there are hundreds of fairly new, empty houses.
There are big buildings, mostly empty. There's even an empty McDonalds.
The Navy pulled out of Adak Island in 1997, followed by a big clean up. The title to most of the land was
transferred to the Aleut Corporation, and organization for Aleutian Indians, Eskimos, Native Americans, First
Nations, Aleuts, or whatever the proper terminology is today.
We saw a lot of wildlife, and could drive around on a lot of good gravel roads to sightsee. It's an
interesting place.
On approach to Adak Airport
Old McDonalds
Signs from the Adak Naval Air Station
Sea Otters
Takeoff
We were told that the caribou on Adak Island are the largest in Alaska.
Huh?
There is a geothermal spring here that makes a nice swimming hole.
Rock Ptarmigan
An Old Loran Station
An Old Loran Station
One of the newer bunkers
Harlequin Ducks
Harlequin Ducks
Sea Otter
Harlequin Ducks
One of the bunkers. Excellent echo.
The town of Adak
One of the old bunkers
Nice sedimentary patterns, maybe from nearby volcanoes.
Eagle in flight
Rock Ptarmigan
bird.
Lots of housing.
Lots of housing.
Lots of housing.
Lots of housing.
A young eagle on the beach.
Eagle on the beach.
These ducks would dive whenever a large breaker came in.
Young Eagles
Young Eagles
Young Eagles
Harbor Seals
Takeoff!
The Next Aleutian West, Kanaga Island.
A recent radar or communications station.
A nice rental car.
The town of Adak.
On approach to Adak Airport
Old McDonalds
Signs from the Adak Naval Air Station
Sea Otters
Takeoff
We were told that the caribou on Adak Island are the largest in Alaska.
Huh?
There is a geothermal spring here that makes a nice swimming hole.
Rock Ptarmigan
An Old Loran Station
An Old Loran Station
One of the newer bunkers
Harlequin Ducks
Harlequin Ducks
Sea Otter
Harlequin Ducks
One of the bunkers. Excellent echo.
The town of Adak
One of the old bunkers
Nice sedimentary patterns, maybe from nearby volcanoes.
Eagle in flight
Rock Ptarmigan
bird.
Lots of housing.
Lots of housing.
Lots of housing.
Lots of housing.
A young eagle on the beach.
Eagle on the beach.
These ducks would dive whenever a large breaker came in.
Young Eagles
Young Eagles
Young Eagles
Harbor Seals
Takeoff!
The Next Aleutian West, Kanaga Island.
A recent radar or communications station.
A nice rental car.
The town of Adak.