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Kuiu Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska. It lies between Kupreanof Island, to its east, and Baranof Island, to its west. The island is 105 km (65 mi) long, and 10 to 23 km (6–14 miles) wide. It is nearly cut in two by Affleck Canal. It has 1,936.16 km2 (747.56 sq mi) of land area, making it the 15th largest island in the United States. The entire island is part of Tongass National Forest.
 | |
 Location of Kuiu Island | |
  Kuiu Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Alaska Panhandle |
| Coordinates | 56°32′26″N 134°03′04″W |
| Archipelago | Alexander Archipelago |
| Area | 747.556 sq mi (1,936.16 km2) |
| Length | 65 mi (105 km) |
| Width | 10–23 km (6.2–14.3 mi) |
| Administration | |
United States | |
| State | Alaska |
| Census area | Prince of Wales–Hyder |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 10 (2000) |
| Pop. density | 0.005/km2 (0.013/sq mi) |
The island's name comes from Kuiu Kwaan people of the Tlingit who lived here post glaciation. Kuiu in Tlingit means stomach.[1] After a small pox epidemic that nearly wiped out the entire village, the survivors moved to the neighboring Tlingit communities of Kake and Klawock. After the destruction of the Kuiu Kwaan community, white homesteaders occupied the island under the homestead act. [2] Many of the current population are descendants of these homesteaders.
The population was 10 persons at the 2000 census. It is separated from Baranof Island by Chatham Strait. The Cape Decision Light is located on Kuiu Island. Also on the island are the Kuiu Wilderness and the Tebenkof Bay Wilderness areas.
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