Alexander Archipelago

9.2

A group of islands off southeast Alaska that lie along its narrow coastal strip

proper noun
/ˌælɪɡˈzændər ˌɑrkɪˈpɛləɡoʊ/

: Archipiélago Alexander

Many of the islands in the Alexander Archipelago are accessible only by boat or seaplane.

Examples

The Alexander Archipelago is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including bears and eagles.
Cruising through the Alexander Archipelago, we saw dozens of seabirds and remote fishing villages.
The Alexander Archipelago is known for its stunning natural beauty.
Have you ever visited the Alexander Archipelago?
Cruising through the Alexander Archipelago, we saw dozens of seabirds and remote fishing villages.
Many of the islands in the Alexander Archipelago are accessible only by boat or seaplane.
The Alexander Archipelago is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including bears and eagles.

Surface Forms

Alexander Archipelago main

Morphology

Alexander + archipelago

The phrase combines a proper name 'Alexander' with the noun 'archipelago' (a cluster of islands), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a group of islands called Alexander. While they cannot deduce the precise location (southeastern Alaska) from the words alone, the basic referential meaning is transparently compositional and follows common naming patterns.

Etymology

Alexander Archipelago comes from the time when Russia owned Alaska. People named the long chain of islands after a ruler called Alexander, and archipelago means a 'group of islands', so the name simply tells you it is Alexander's islands.