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26-566: The strait is used by most vessels that are less than 200 feet (61 m) in length, when traveling between northern Alaska and points in southwestern and southeastern Alaska and the "lower 48" states. The city of False Pass, Alaska is situated on Isanotski Strait. Isanotski Strait and Ikatan Bay separate the Alaska Peninsula from Unimak Island , the easternmost of the Aleutian Islands . Isanotski Strait has its southerly entrance at

52-566: Is 4.5 feet. In the narrow southern part of Isanotski Strait, the tidal currents have a velocity of 7 to 9 miles or more, and it is said that there is practically no slack and the current turns about three hours after high or low water in Ikatan Bay. This strait was used for safe passage for millennia by Aleuts and later by the Russians during their colonization of the area in Russian America . In

78-571: Is a peninsula extending about 497 mi (800 km) to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands . The peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay , an arm of the Bering Sea . In literature (especially Russian), the term "Alaska Peninsula" was used to denote the entire northwestern protrusion of the North American continent , or all of what

104-489: Is at 54°49′40″N 163°23′57″W  /  54.82778°N 163.39917°W  / 54.82778; -163.39917 (54.827886, -163.399090). It is near the eastern end of Unimak Island , in the Aleutian Islands chain. Part of the city (26.093 km , or 10.075 sq mi) is on the mainland's westernmost tip Alaska Peninsula , across the Isanotski Strait (about 600 meters at the closest point), although that section

130-618: Is generally turbid and muddy, experiences tidal extremes, and is relatively shallow; the Pacific side, which is also known as the "ring of fire", has relatively small tidal activity and the water is deep and clear. All of the Peninsula is organized as a part of four adjacent boroughs ; the Aleutians East Borough , Bristol Bay Borough , Kodiak Island Borough , and Lake and Peninsula Borough . The Lake and Peninsula Borough includes most of

156-446: Is nearly unpopulated. The city boundaries include the abandoned villages of Morzhovoi and Ikatan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 68.3 square miles (177 km ), of which 26.9 square miles (70 km ) is land and 41.4 square miles (107 km ) (60.63%) is water. Boats and aircraft are the only transportation to and from False Pass. Aircraft use False Pass Airport . False Pass first appeared on

182-614: Is now the state of Alaska, exclusive of its panhandle and islands . The Lake and Peninsula borough , the Alaskan equivalent of a county , is named after the peninsula. The Alaska/Aleutian Peninsula is also grouped into Southwest Alaska . The other largest peninsulas in Alaska include the Kenai Peninsula and Seward Peninsula . The base of the Alaska Peninsula extends outward from

208-499: The Aleutian Islands , Iceland , and Tierra del Fuego . The Alaska Peninsula is home to some of the largest populations of native and undisturbed wildlife in the United States. Besides the famous McNeil River and Katmai Alaskan brown bear populations, large herds of caribou , moose , wolves , waterfowl , and willow ptarmigan inhabit the area. The bears of the peninsula and Bristol Bay are so numerous because they feed on

234-476: The Kodiak Archipelago which lie off the south coast of the peninsula and are home to even more bears, constitute the Alaska Peninsula montane taiga ecoregion and contain a number of protected areas such as Katmai National Park . Vegetation on the Peninsula consists mostly of shrub-lands, grassy meadows, or wet tundra. Besides the communities on the coast ( see: Bristol Bay ), the Alaska Peninsula also

260-552: The 1900s it was used by light-draft craft built in Puget Sound ports for service on the Yukon River , in making the passage from Puget Sound ports to St. Michael . It was the practice for these vessels to go through the inland passages of Southeast Alaska , out through Cross Sound , and coast around, watching the weather, going behind the islands off the Alaska Peninsula and through Isanotski Strait or Unimak Pass . Isanotski Strait

286-406: The 1930 U.S. Census as the unincorporated area of "Unimak." This included the populations of both False Pass and Ikatan. It reported again in 1940, but in 1950, was returned separately as False Pass (as an unincorporated village). It was made a census-designated place in 1980. As of the census of 2000, there were 64 people, 22 households, and 13 families residing in the city. The population density

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312-427: The age of 18 living with them, 22.7% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.79. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 35.9% under

338-461: The age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 49,375, and the median income for a family was $ 70,625. Males had a median income of $ 23,750 versus $ 37,083 for females. The per capita income for

364-545: The city was $ 21,465. There were 11.1% of families and 8.0% of the population living below the poverty line , including no under eighteens and 50.0% of those over 64. Occupation categories for the 2000 census are shown in the accompanying pie chart. The community has traditionally depended upon commercial fishing, but it now employs only 24% of the workforce or 10 individuals. These individuals are boat captains and crewmen. As in many modern American communities, white collar sales/office and management positions now employ 51% of

390-671: The employment positions or 21 people. Aleutians East Borough School District (AEBSD) operates the False Pass School. c.  1978 the school, then a part of the Aleutian Region School District , had a single teacher, and 8 students. 54°49′40″N 163°23′57″W  /  54.827886°N 163.39909°W  / 54.827886; -163.39909 Alaska Peninsula The Alaska Peninsula (also called Aleut Peninsula or Aleutian Peninsula , Aleut : Alasxix̂ ; Sugpiaq : Aluuwiq , Al'uwiq )

416-867: The end of the Alaska Range . The Aleutian Range is a very active volcanic mountain range which runs along the entire length of the Peninsula. Within it lie Wildlife Refuges, including the Katmai National Park and Preserve , the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve and the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge , the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge , and the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge . The most active volcano along

442-456: The northern end. A salmon cannery was built on the Unimak Island side of the strait in 1919 which provided the nucleus for the modern settlement. A U.S. post office with the name of False Pass was established in 1921 which gave official status to the community. Commercial fishing for salmon, cod, halibut and crab continues to be the core of the community's lifestyle and economy. False Pass

468-406: The northwest end of Ikatan Bay. Traders Cove, on the eastern side of Isanotski Strait about 7 miles above its entrance from Ikatan Bay, is a good anchorage. Morzhovoi, a mission and native village, is on the south side. The northern entrance has strong tidal currents, which are affected by strong northerly or southerly winds. There is an extensive shoal, or flat, in the northern and widest portion of

494-423: The peninsula's territory. Average annual precipitation ranges from 24–65 in (610–1,650 mm). Coastal areas are subject to intense storms, wind, and rain. Winter temperatures average between 12 and 34 °F (−11 and 1 °C), and in summer between 43 and 59 °F (6 and 15 °C). Frosts can occur any day of the year at higher elevations. The climate can be compared to that of parts of Scotland ,

520-407: The population was marked 397 including seasonal fish processing plant workers at the 2020 census , approximately 35 residents call it home year-round. False Pass is an early English name for Isanotski Strait on which the city of False Pass is located. The strait was called "False Pass" by early American sailing ship captains because it was thought to be impassable for their deep draft vessels at

546-460: The sea in one or two years. Exceptionally large seabird colonies exist along the coast. Additionally, there are large populations of sea mammals in the North Pacific Ocean between the Alaska Peninsula and Kamchatka . This includes harbor seals , ringed seals , northern fur seals , whales , porpoises , sea otters and sea lions . The rugged southern half of the peninsula, and also

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572-458: The strait, lying to the east of the channel way and south of the outlet to the Bering Sea. Just outside this outlet, at a distance of between 1 and 2 miles (1.6 and 3.2 km), is a line of shoals, with breakers, that extend from the northeast point of Unimak Island in a northeasterly direction for 5–6 miles (8.0–9.7 km) parallel with the coast. The mean rise and fall of tides in Ikatan Bay

598-670: The volcanic mountain range is Pavlof Volcano which is more than 8,251 feet (2,515 meters)(see also: Aleutian Arc ). The southern side of the Alaska Peninsula is rugged and mountainous, created by the uplifting tectonic activity of the North Pacific Plate subsiding under a western section of the North American Plate ; the northern side is generally flat and marshy, a result of millennia of erosion and general seismic stability. The northern and southern shores are likewise quite different. The northern Bristol Bay coastal side

624-423: The world's largest sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) runs, which occur here in large part because the many large lakes of the peninsula are an important element in their lifecycle. These salmon, after returning from their brief time at sea, swim into the lakes and their contributing streams to spawn. Their offspring, or fry , overwinter in the deep and food-abundant depths of these lakes until their migration to

650-416: Was 2.4 inhabitants per square mile (0.93/km ). There were 40 housing units at an average density of 1.5 units per square mile (0.58 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 62.50% Native American , 26.56% White , 1.56% from other races , and 9.38% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 22 households, out of which 31.8% had children under

676-467: Was preferable to Unimak Pass for light-draft river vessels because it was nearer and had many sheltered anchorages and places where fresh water could be obtained. 54°49′46″N 163°22′49″W  /  54.829372°N 163.380372°W  / 54.829372; -163.380372 False Pass, Alaska False Pass ( Aleut : Isanax̂ ) is a city on Unimak Island , in the Aleutians East Borough of southwestern Alaska , United States. Although

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