Alaska 2014

Russian explorers discovered Kodiak Island in 1763, and Kodiak served as Alaska's first capital until 1804, when the government was moved to Sitka. The Kodiak archipelago has been home to native cultures for over 7000 years. In their language, "Kodiak" means island. Their descendants still occupy the island and are considered Alutiiq, a term used to describe both their language and culture. Sitting in the northwestern Gulf of Alaska, Kodiak has been subject to several natural disasters. In 1912 a volcanic eruption on the nearby Alaska Peninsula covered the town site in knee-deep drifts of ash and pumice. The 1964 earthquake and resulting tsunami destroyed the island's large fishing fleet and smashed Kodiak's low-lying downtown area. Kodiak is a key player in the commercial fishing industry.