The Starichkov Island

Starichkov Island is located 5.5 miles southwest of the entrance to Avacha Bay. The length of it is less than one mile, width is twice less. The island has a major navigational significance in this area. The island began to be used as conspicuous landmark, indicating the proximity of bay (in the case of your sailing from the south) since the late 1730s. On the map of 1740, it was called Viluchinsky. In 1789, the famous Russian navigator, G.A. Sarychev introduced other title in his official documents – “Starichkov” – i.e. "names of small sea birds (or puffins) who made their innumerable nests on the island". The height of the island is 147.5 meters. The shore of the island is rocky, it is overgrown with grass and bushes in some places. The island is surrounded by surface and submerged rocks. It is a sanctuary, home to colonies of water birds. The island is inhabited by colonies of Bering Sea gannets and the red-faced gannets, Pacific gulls, Kittiwakes, Pacific and spectacled guillemots, common and thick guillemots, ordinary old men, puffins and others. Here are a few nests of white-tailed eagle and maturation of colorful seals (largos). On the way to the island you can see grampuses.