Coronation Island (Alaska)

High prevailing winds and waves from the open ocean to the west, combined with a steep, rocky coast, result in virtually unaccessible shore due to heavy surf along the windward (western and southwestern) coastline of the island.

The few protected coves and beaches along the leeward (eastern and northeastern) shore are guarded by rocky shoals.

Thus, the island is difficult to access by any route, and is generally limited to small boat or floatplane during brief lulls in the weather.

Coronation Island's western side includes large, flat lowland areas of karst that appear to have never been glaciated, based on bathymetric mapping.

Common animals on Coronation Island include Sitka black-tailed deer, long-tailed vole,[6] and bald eagle.

[10] An inventory of the island's fauna in 1983 found apparent extirpation of the wolves, with no evidence of the species, but the deer were once again plentiful.

[8] Avifauna observed in coastal caves on the island include northern fulmar, sooty shearwater, short-tailed shearwater, pelagic cormorant, long-tailed duck, surf scoter, white-winged scoter, blue grouse, wandering tattler, surfbird, short-billed gull, glaucous-winged gull, common murre, pigeon guillemot, marbled murrelet, parakeet auklet, rhinoceros auklet, Cassin's auklet, tufted puffin, northern hawk owl and northwestern crow.

[13] The bryophyte Hypopterygium tamarisci subsp japonicum, as well as the lichen-forming fungus Pannaria oregonensis, occur on the island.