Umnak
A major geologic event was the cutting of strand flats during the Hypsithermal period, about 8250 to 3000 years ago, which led to a greater natural food supply on the island for the settlers.The modern history of Umnak Island is linked to the military bases established by the United States during World War II.The purpose of the forward air bases in the Aleutian Islands was not only to defend the Dutch Harbor but also to launch attacks against the Japanese mainland.They created a camouflage in the "Blair Fish Packing Co," to build airports and bases to be used by the US Army Air Force during World War II.[5] After getting clearance from General John L. DeWitt, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. built airbases at Umnak (eventually known as Fort Glenn) and at Cold Bay.By the time the Japanese attacked in the summer of 1942, the US garrison at Umnak had a combined strength of 4000, including engineer companies complemented by infantry, as well as field and antiaircraft artillery units.The Japanese planned to attack and capture the island in June to maintain aerial patrols over North Pacific waters.The Japanese were unaware of the covert preparations being made by the United States as they believed that the island was only protected by a few ships operating in Aleutian waters.[18][19] The volcano of Mount Okmok, characterized by its 5.8 miles (9.3 km) wide circular caldera, it located in the northwestern part of the island.This generally flat central basin has an average elevation of 370 m above sea level, with the rim of the caldera reaching a height of 1,073 metres (3,520 ft).On Saturday, July 12, 2008, Okmok Volcano on Mount Okmok, located on Umnak, erupted for several days, through a fresh vent sending wet, ash, and gas-rich plume that reached an altitude of 50,000 feet (15,000 m) in the air and forcing the evacuation of Fort Glenn, a private cattle ranch located on the island.However, the Aleut village, Nikolski, on the opposite side of Umnak Island with a population of about 40 people to the west of Okmok Volcano escaped from the southeasterly path of the ash clouds.The ash plume also disrupted the operation of flights to the Dutch Harbor airport as it spread across many miles of the North Pacific.Floods that occurred during this destroyed an Aleut village at Cape Tanak on the northeast Bering Sea Coast of the island.Fort Glenn, a former major military facility on the northeast shore of the island, played an instrumental role in the North Pacific Theater in World War II.[28] After the war ended, Fort Glenn remained open as a refueling stop for transient aircraft in the Aleutians along with Military Air Transport Service flights using the Great Circle Route from Japan to the United States.
United StatesAlaskaFox IslandsAleutian IslandsRussian19th largest island in the United StatescalderaMount OkmokgeysersUnalaska IslandNikolskiAnangulastrand flatsHypsithermalAleutsWorld War IIDutch HarborUS NavyJohn L. DeWittSimon Bolivar Buckner Jr.Fort GlennCold BayNorth PacificSamoanNew CaledoniaMount VsevidofUnimakUnalaskaBering Seaisland of Unalaskalast glacial periodAdugak IslandstratovolcanoMount Recheshnoisatellite coneslava domescrater lakehydrogeologyAlaska Volcano ObservatoryAviation Alert LevelVolcanic-alert Levelsubarctic climateKöppenprecipitation2000 censusPacific Theatercensuspopulation densityNative Americanmarried couplesper capita incomepoverty lineAleutian Region SchoolsNikolski AirportBenjamin B. TalleyMarston MattingP-40 fighter aircraftMilitary Air Transport ServiceBureau of Land ManagementNational Register of Historic PlacesCape Field at Fort GlennUmnak AirportK. BergslandLydia BlackEncyclopædia BritannicaUniversity of WisconsinGeological Society of AmericaReutersUnited States Census BureauUnited States NavyAdugakAgattuAiktakAkutanAmaknakAmatignakAmchitkaAmuktaAnangula (Ananiuliak)ArakamchechenAvatanakBeringBesboroBobrofBogoslofBuldirCarlisleChagulakChuginadakChugulDerbinGareloiGreat SitkinHagemeisterHawadaxHerbertIgitkinKagalaskaKagamilKamen AriyKanagaKaraginskyKasatochiKhvostofKoniujiLittle SitkinLittle TanagaNelsonNunivakOglodakPancake RockRootokSagchudakSamalgaSea Lion RockSea Otter RocksSedankaSeguamSegulaSemisopochnoiShemyaSkagulSledgeSt. LawrenceSt. MatthewSt. Michael