IKATAN PENINSULA (chart 8701), the southeastern extremity of Unimak Island and southward of the end of the Alaska Peninsula, is about 13 miles long and is composed of several mountain masses. separated by low depressions. The wind blows through the low depressions of the land with great force. The south shore of the peninsula is fringed with rocks and breakers.

CAPE PANKOF, the eastern end of Ikatan Peninsula, is a sheer rocky headland consisting of a single 1,243-foot (379 m) peak dropping immediately to a bluff which forms the southeast side of the cape. The slope of the top of the bluff descends gradually from the peak to the northward, whereas to the southward the descent is broken in the form of vast steps. Viewing the cape from the southward the peak has a sharp outline and an abrupt rise from the sea.

Another prominent headland, 1,070 feet (326 m) in elevation, rises precipitously from the bluffs on the south shore of Ikatan Peninsula, 11⁄2 miles westward of the southern extremity of Cape Pankof. The mountain masses of the two headlands are separated by a low depression 34 mile westward of the cape. The bluffs are rust and gray in color. The slopes are grass covered (in the summer) with frequent bare spots. There is evidence of recent small rock slides on the higher bluffs.

The southern extremity of Cape Pankof is marked by a light, placed on a rock about 82 feet (25 m) high.

A sunken rock which breaks with a light swell during low stages of the tide lies about 1 mile westward from Cape Pankof light and about 300 yards offshore. Another offshore danger lies off the eastern point of the entrance to West Anchor cove, see page 296.

Pankof Breaker is a sharp pinnacle rock with 3 feet (0.9 m) over it, lying a little over 2 miles 53° true from the southeast point of the entrance to East Anchor Cove. During the summer season the rock seldom breaks. There are 12 to 14 fathoms (21.9 to 25.6 m) close to the rock.

East Anchor Cove, on the north side of Cape Pankof, is a good anchorage except for winds from the north to southeast through east. The Cove is large and easily entered, and the only danger in the approach is Pankof Breaker. There is a fish trap just inside the southeast entrance point. Anchorage may be selected as desired in 7 to 10 fathoms (12.8 to 18.3 m).

Westdahl Reef, with 212 fathoms (4.6 m) over it, lies 734 miles 104° true from Cape Pankof Light. It is a rocky patch of small extent, and is the only danger found in this vicinity by the survey of 1923. Surveys were extended westward to a line joining the north end of Sanak Island with Cape Pankof and southward to a line connecting the north point of Sanak Island with Sozavarika Island.

Bird Island, about 1/2 mile in extent, is the most prominent landmark between Capes Pankof and Aksit. From the south, the island appears as a single elevated rocky mass, rounded but somewhat ragged in outline; the highest point, 775 feet (236 m), is a knob readily identified. Steep sides, fringing rocks and breakers make a landing very difficult. The only practical landing place is on the north tip having a steep beach of rather coarse_gravel.

A bar, consisting of a sunken reef, connets Bird Island with the western point of the entrance to Dora Harbor. A depth of 51⁄2 fathoms (10.0 m) may be carried across, but passage is not recommended. This bar depth is obtainable on the line passing through the peak 14 miles northward of Cape Aksit and the summit on the western point of the entrance to West Anchor Cove. The line crosses the bar a little more than halfway from the point (on the north) to Bird Island. A sunken rock on the bar lies a little less than halfway from the point to the island. The rock does not break in ordinary weather.

West Anchor Cove, the largest indentation on the south side of Ikatan Peninsula, affords indifferent anchorage. Anchorage in East Anchorage Cove is recommended. The anchorage for all but small craft is confined to the open part of West Anchor Cove, which is exposed to southerly and southwesterly weather, always accompanied by heavy ocean swells. The bottom in West Anchor Cove is fine, dark gray, sand, which affords good holding ground. The entrance is wide and clear but rocky reefs extend from the points on either side. There is a narrow shelf of rocks along the shore at the eastern point of the entrance, the outer edge of which shows at half tide and probably breaks all the time. A rock, with depth of 21⁄2 fathoms (4.6 m), lies off this ledge, distant 1/2 mile and southwesterly from the point. This is the outermost danger in the approach from the eastward.

A prominent flat rock, 4 feet (1.2 m) high, lies 1/2 mile off the round point on the eastern side of West Anchor Cove and about the same distance inside the entrance. This feature marks the western limit of the dangers on the eastern side of the cove and has been found useful for making the anchorage in thick weather. A detached shoal of about 3 fathoms (5.5 m) and possibly less, lies in the middle of the inner part of the cove about 1.2 miles from the head. The shoal marks the upper limit of anchorage for all but small craft. Rocky ledges extend from the north and south shores but not over 300 yards. A rock column, 46 feet (14.0 m) high, on the south side and near the head, stands out prominently.

The bight between West Anchor Cove and Dora Harbor is small and exposed. Rocky reefs extend about 400 yards from the shore off the entrance points. A prominent rock (uncharted 1937) 32 feet (9.8 m) high, lies 330 yards off the west side of the headland at the east end of the bight. A prominent rounded, rocky hill, 789 feet (240 m) high, dominates the headland.

Dora Harbor, on the south side of Ikatan Peninsula and abreast of Bird Island, affords the only good anchorage (with protection from all winds and sea) on the south side of Unimak Island; but the harbor is limited to small vessels. The entire shore of the harbor is fringed with ledges, partly bare at low water, to a distance of about 300 yards. The reef extending 1/4 mile westward from the eastern point of the entrance and that projecting from the western point toward Bird Island afford protection from ordinary southerly and westerly swell at the outer anchorage, but a heavy swell from southward is uncomfortable. The outer anchorage, however, is seldom used.

There is low table land terminating in bluffs at the shores on both the eastern side of Dora Harbor and the middle point of the western side.

The inner harbor of Dora Harbor is a slight expansion at the head with depths of 9 to 15 feet (2.7 to 4.6 m) in the middle. A heavy swell from the southward will cause also this anchorage to be uncomfortable.

In entering Dora Harbor care should be taken to avoid a rock awash at low water lying 0.3 mile 220° true from the eastern point at the entrance. The rock is detached and distant 200 yards from the edge of the shore reef. In calm weather, when the rock is covered, a light swell may not cause a breaker. Favor the western side in the entrance to avoid the reef extending about 1/4 mile westward from the point on the east side of the entrance, and then steer mid-harbor courses to the inner harbor, where anchorage with somewhat restricted swinging room is afforded vessels of 7 feet (2.1 m) or less draft. Care must be taken to hold the mid-harbor course in entering the inner harbor in order to avoid reefs that make out 325 yards from the points on each side.

Otter Cove, known locally as Big Badger Bay, is an open bight between Ikatan Peninsula and Cape Aksit. The shores on both sides are characterized by high bare rocky cliffs. The sand beach forming the head is bordered by a series of grass-covered dunes. Other dunes in the form of ridges lie further inland.

Otter Cove is exposed to southerly winds and ocean swells, and there is always a heavy surf. Northerly winds blow with great violence over the low isthmus separating it from Ikatan Bay. The only safe boat landing is in its northeastern corner. Two rocks close together and baring 1 foot (0.3 m) at m. 1. 1. w., lie over 1/2 mile from the shore of Ikatan Peninsula and 32 miles northwestward from Bird Island.

The story has been handed down amongst the natives that a channel once existed between Otter Cove and Ikatan Bay and that the Russian vessels once sailed through here.

Cape Aksit, the western point of Otter Cove, is bold and rugged. Cape Lazaref and the south coast of Unimak Island are described on page 307.

SANAK ISLANDS (chart 8860), the last group of islands along the Alaska Peninsula, lie east-southeastward of Ikatan Peninsula with a 13-mile expanse of water between the group and Cape Pankof. The inside route along the Alaska Peninsula emerges here, passing between Cape Pankof and Westdahl Reef (p. 295). Following the

north side of the Sanak Island group, a route from the sea to the vicinity of Cape Pankof passes southward of Hague Rock and between Westdahl Reef and Crowley Rock.

The group consists of two large islands, Sanak and Caton Islands, and a great number of small islands and rocks southward of the main islands; all are bare of trees. They cover an area about 20 miles long and 10 miles wide.

The mountain mass at the northwest end, the summit of which is Sanak Peak, elevation 1,700 feet (518 m), is an important landfall. A lower peak, elevation 700 feet (213 m), lying 11⁄2 miles westward of Sanak Peak, is often visible when the latter is hidden by clouds. On the eastern side of the mountain mass a ridge rises to more than 200 feet (61 m). All the remainder of the land in the Sanak Group is low in comparison, being a little more than 100 feet (30 m) on the northern side and decreasing to less than 40 feet (12.2 m) high among the southern islands and rocks of the group.

Crowley Rock, lying 11⁄2 miles off the north side of Sanak Island and 348° true from Sanak Peak, is composed of several small pinnacles very close together. The least depth found on the rock is 12fathom (0.9 m) with depths of 25 fathoms (46 m) or more surrounding it, except to the northwestward. There is a good passage inside Crowley Rock. The rock is not always marked by kelp and does not break unless the water is much disturbed. However, a prominent slick is evident on occasion.

The western end of Sanak Island is fringed with rocks. The western most breaker of the rocks which form a continuous barrier from shore, lies nearly 2 miles, 281° true, from Point Petrof, or 1 mile, 267° true, from the northwesternmost bare rocks of the barrier. West Breaker lies 6 miles west true from Point Petrol.

A reef, with five rocks which show above water, lies between 4 and 5 miles southwestward of Clifford Island. What is supposed to be Hennig Rock is the northernmost rock of the reef, and is nearly on the range of Sanak Peak and the western end of Troitz Island (the middle and largest Trinity Island) and distant 311⁄2 miles from Troitz Island. Oneida Rock, 4 miles 162° true from Hennig Rock, is the southernmost rock of the reef. It lies 5 miles from Clifford Island and 224° true from Sanak Peak.

A narrow bank about 6 miles long, in an east and west direction, is reported to lie 7 miles southwestward of Clifford Island. Depths of 2 to 7 fathoms (3.7 to 12.8 m) were found on it, and it is marked by kelp at slack water. The least depth was found at its northwest end, which lies 12 miles 238° true from Sanak Peak.

ALEKS ROCK is in latitude 54°20′ N., longitude 163°10′ W., and lies 1634 miles 241° true from Sanak Peak. It is the farthest outlying known rock southwestward of Sanak Island. The least depth found was 9 fathoms (16.5 m), but it is reported to break with an ordinary swell.

Anderson and Lenard Rocks on Davidson Bank, southwest of Sanak Island, long of doubtful existence, have been removed from the charts. No trace of them has been found in the survey of this region. All reported positions place the supposed rocks along the edge of Davidson Bank. The bank along its seaward edge drops abruptly to great depths, and tide rips are often seen here. Naviga

SANAK HARBOR

299 tors may have concluded that the rips were occasioned by shoal rocky

areas.

The anchorages at Sanak Islands are suitable for small or moderate sized vessels only, and with the exception of Caton Harbor there are no harbors affording shelter from all winds.

Sanak (Acherk) Harbor (chart 8841), at the northwest end of Sanak Island, is 34 mile long and about 1/4 mile wide, and affords a contracted anchorage for small vessels with protection from southerly and westerly winds, but is exposed to winds from northwest to east, and a swell makes in with strong westerly winds. There is a small settlement at the southeast corner of the harbor, at which there is a boat landing, and water can be obtained by boats. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 412 feet (1.3 m).

There is a light on the point on the east side of the middle part of the harbor. A beacon is established on a hill on the western shore of the harbor. The beacon is 184 feet (56 m) above the water. Caution should be used in this harbor, as there may be dangers, other than those indicated on chart 8841 (1938). The sunken rock shown 235 yards 277° true from Sanak light is reported to have a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) and to be marked by heavy kelp. Temporary anchorage may be had about 1/4 mile northeast of Point Petrof, in 10 fathoms (18.3 m).

A monthly mail steamer calls at Sanak, and there is a store and a post office. It is the center of a cod fishery. There are cattle raised on the island.

Approaching Sanak Harbor from northward and eastward there are several reported dangers, the positions of which are shown on chart 8860, but the only known dangers are Westdahl Reef and Crowley Rock; the safest way to avoid Crowley Rock (p. 298) in coming from the eastward is to keep within 34 mile of the north shore of Sanak Island.

Approaching Sanak Harbor from the northwestward steer for the western hill of Sanak Mountain on any bearing between 140° true and 176° true, taking care to avoid Westdahl Reef. When off the entrance, steer 193° true for the middle of the entrance, and anchor a short distance to the northward of the light, taking care to avoid the 7 foot (2.1 m) spot which lies in line between the light and beacon. There are sunken rocks off the points at the entrance, but they are marked by kelp and can readily be avoided.

Murphys Crack is a small indentation about 114 miles east of Sanak Harbor. It is protected by a reef and affords shelter for the boats of the fishermen who live here.

Pavlof Harbor is a small bay about 1 mile east of the eastern base of Sanak Mountain. It is reported to be a good harbor for small craft, but requires local knowledge because of the protecting reefs at the entrance, and vessels drawing more than 7 or 8 feet (2.1 or 2.4 m) can not use it. There is a fishing station here.

Unimak Cove, 14 miles east of Pavlof Harbor, is an open bight, and unimportant.

Johnson Bay, 111⁄2 miles west of Northeast Point, has an inner harbor for boats and small craft, where there is a fishing station, and vessels may anchor just inside the entrance to the bay, favoring the east side, in about 9 fathoms (16.5 m), with protection from south

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