Eldred Rock Explained

Eldred Rock
Map:Alaska
Location:Juneau City and Borough, Alaska
Haines Borough, Alaska
Coordinates:58.9717°N -135.2208°W
Archipelago:Alexander Archipelago
Waterbody:Lynn Canal
Elevation Ft:0
Country:United States
Country Admin Divisions Title:State
Country Admin Divisions:Alaska
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Borough
Country Admin Divisions 1:Juneau City and Borough
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:Borough
Country Admin Divisions 2:Haines Borough

Eldred Rock (also known as Nechraje[1]) is an island in the boroughs of Juneau and Haines, Alaska, United States.[2] Located in Lynn Canal, it is 2.7miles southeast of Kataguni Island and 55miles northwest of the city of Juneau. This island is the site of the Eldred Rock Light, a lighthouse built in 1905 and staffed until the United States Coast Guard automated its operation in 1973.

The Eldred Rock Coast Guard Heliport is also located on the island.[3]

Wrecks and incidents

Eldred Rock has been the location of multiple maritime incidents. One of the earliest involved the Hassler, the Coast Guard's first iron-hulled steamship. After being decommissioned, the vessel was sold to the McGuire Brothers for $15,700 and renamed the Clara Nevada. She sailed from Seattle, Washington, on January 26, 1898, with a crew of 40 men bound for Skagway, Alaska and 165 passengers heading for the Klondike gold fields. Late on February 5, 1898, the Clara Nevada left Skagway with between 25 and 40 passengers aboard. During the night she struck an uncharted rock several hundred yards north of Eldred Rock and sank immediately. There were no survivors.[4]

A tour boat struck the island on June 24, 2002, but later made its way safely to Haines.[5]

Climate

Eldred Rock has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc).

Notes and References

  1. Orth, Donald J. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, December 31, 1967.
  2. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1421690 USGS GNIS Feature Detail Report: Eldred Rock
  3. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1417682 USGS GNIS Feature Detail Report: Eldred Rock Coast Guard Heliport
  4. Web site: 2007 Hassler Expedition - Hassler/Clara Nevada's last days . sanctuaries.noaa.gov . 2012 . 14 September 2012.
  5. Web site: Tour boat strikes rock near Haines . Gagne-Hawes . Genevieve . 25 June 2002 . . . 9 March 2013.