Savoonga, Native settlement on St. Lawrence Island, Nome Census Area, Alaska, US.
Savoonga sits on St. Lawrence Island along the Bering Sea, spreading across flat terrain with low-lying buildings and gravel pathways. The settlement is surrounded by water and remains isolated from mainland Alaska's road network.
The settlement began as a reindeer herding camp during the 1930s and gained official city status in 1969. This transition marked the shift from seasonal camps to a permanent community on the island.
The Siberian Yupik residents maintain their way of life through year-round subsistence hunting and fishing practices. These activities shape daily routines and the community's connection to the surrounding waters and wildlife.
Visiting this settlement requires flying in, as no road access connects it to the rest of Alaska. Travel is best planned during warmer months when weather is more predictable.
The island is shared with the nearby settlement of Gambell, with only a short distance of water separating the two communities. This arrangement creates an unusual dual settlement in one of Alaska's most remote locations.
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