Shishmaref, city and village in the Nome Census Area, Alaska, United States
Shishmaref is a small city on Sarichef Island north of the Bering Strait, surrounded by water on most sides. Houses sit close to the shoreline, built from wood and metal, with simple unpaved streets where boats and snowmobiles serve as the main transportation.
A Russian explorer named Otto von Kotzebue named the area in 1816 after commander Gleb S. Shishmaryov, reflecting the region's Russian past. Shortly after 1900, the village became an important supply stop for gold miners, and in 1901 it received a post office, marking its connection to the wider world.
The island's original name comes from the Inupiaq language, originally called Kigiktaq. Today the community is known for carving sculptures from whale bone and walrus ivory, with pieces that tell stories about ancestors and the natural world around them.
The only way to reach the village is through a small airport, as the island is surrounded by water. Winter travel is possible across frozen lakes and seas, while summer brings supply deliveries by boat or barge, and within the town simple walking paths and vehicles provide easy access to all areas.
The island loses about 10 feet of shoreline each year to erosion, and experts warn that the entire island could vanish within 10 to 20 years. In 2002, residents voted to relocate to the mainland, a complex project that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and has made little progress so far.
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