Amatignak Island

Amatignak Island (Aleut: Amatignax̂;^[1] Russian: Амактигнак) is a member of the Delarof Islands (western Andreanof Islands), in Alaska's Aleutian archipelago. The southernmost point of Alaska is on this island, as well as the westernmost longitude of Alaska, the United States, and North America.

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Location in Alaska

The island is about 5 miles (8.0 km) long north-to-south, and about 3 miles (4.8 km) wide east-to-west. It is uninhabited. The nearest island is Ulak Island about 4 miles (6.4 km) to the northeast.

On the evening of September 27 1932 the cargo ship Nevada ran aground on the eastern tip of the island while en-route from Astoria to Yokohama. The American ship President Madison, the Japanese steamer Oregon Maru and the USCGC Haida. Of the 35 crew members and one passenger aboard at the time of the wreck only 3 were able to be rescued by the President Madison. ^[2]

References

^ Bergsland, K. (1994). Aleut Dictionary. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center.
^ "USCGC Haida – January 1931 to December 1932, Alaskan Waters, Bering Sea". Naval History. Retrieved February 1, 2025. Conferred with master S.S. Oregon by radio. Oregon had cruised around Amatignak Is. and easterly side of Ulak Is. for two (2) days and was unable to find and pieces of deck-load wreckage or boats at any point except the S.E. face of Amatignak Island. In view of the topography of the Island (Amatignak), it was apparent that the only chance for landing was in a space of one (1) mile, beginning at the wreck and from there southewestward. One lifeboat was found on the beach and the other one in the remains of the deck load. Two bodies of chinese were found in the life boat on the beach, but none in the other boat. Three survivors were taken on board the S.S. President Madison. The Oregon buried the two dead chinese. The master of the Oregon was convinced that all survivors had been accounted for, and in the absence of any encouraging signs deemed that he had done all possible. The commanding officer of the Haida agreed with this, and both ships left the scene of the wreck.

51°15′44″N 179°06′31″W / 51.26222°N 179.10861°W / 51.26222; -179.10861

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[Bergsland-1] Bergsland, K. (1994). Aleut Dictionary. Fairbanks: Alaska Native Language Center.

[2] "USCGC Haida – January 1931 to December 1932, Alaskan Waters, Bering Sea". Naval History. Retrieved February 1, 2025. Conferred with master S.S. Oregon by radio. Oregon had cruised around Amatignak Is. and easterly side of Ulak Is. for two (2) days and was unable to find and pieces of deck-load wreckage or boats at any point except the S.E. face of Amatignak Island. In view of the topography of the Island (Amatignak), it was apparent that the only chance for landing was in a space of one (1) mile, beginning at the wreck and from there southewestward. One lifeboat was found on the beach and the other one in the remains of the deck load. Two bodies of chinese were found in the life boat on the beach, but none in the other boat. Three survivors were taken on board the S.S. President Madison. The Oregon buried the two dead chinese. The master of the Oregon was convinced that all survivors had been accounted for, and in the absence of any encouraging signs deemed that he had done all possible. The commanding officer of the Haida agreed with this, and both ships left the scene of the wreck.

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