Description
9 mi. long, 13 mi. NW of Amchitka I., in the Rat Islands., Aleutian Islands.
History
The word Hawadax originates from an Unangan word reportedly meaning “those two over there” or “entry” or “welcome”. The former name Rat Island is a translation from the Russian "Krysi" and probably from the Aleut name "Ayugadak," meaning "rat." Commodore Billings (1802), Imperial Russian Navy (IRN), listed Krissey Island; A. Arrowsmith (in Sauer, 1802) called it "Rats Island." "Os(trov) Ayugadak (Krysi)" was published in 1848 on Russian Hydrographic Dept. Chart 1400. Captain Lutke (1836), Imperial Russian Navy (IRN), published "Kryci" and "Ayoungadakh."