Rootok Island (also called ''Aektok'', ''Aiaktak'', ''Ouektock'', ''Aiaiepta'', ''Veniaminof'', or ''Goloi'' (alt: ''Goly''; "bare") is the smallest member of the

Krenitzin Islands The Krenitzin Islands (centered at ca. ) are a group of small islands located in the eastern portion of the Fox Islands (Alaska), Fox Islands group of the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The Krenitizins are situated between Unalaska Island to ...

, a subgroup of the Fox Islands in the eastern

Aleutian Islands The Aleutian Islands ( ; ; , "land of the Aleuts"; possibly from the Chukchi language, Chukchi ''aliat'', or "island")—also called the Aleut Islands, Aleutic Islands, or, before Alaska Purchase, 1867, the Catherine Archipelago—are a chain ...

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The island's common spelling of ''Rooktok'' appears to have arisen from ''Aektok''. Deviations in

compass A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with No ...

readings of up to 3 degrees from normal have been observed off the island's north-western side. page 2 The island was set aside to house a

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

on January 4, 1901; though no navigation aids were ever constructed. The island is uninhabited and it is long and wide.

References

Krenitzin Islands Uninhabited islands of Alaska Islands of Alaska Islands of Aleutians East Borough, Alaska {{AleutiansEastAK-geo-stub