Wrangell Island is in the Alexander Archipelago in the Alaska Panhandle of southeastern Alaska. It is 48 km (30 mi) long and 8–23 km (3–14 miles) wide. It has a land area of 544.03 km2 (210.05 sq mi), making it the 29th largest island in the United States. Wrangell is separated from the mainland by the narrow Blake Channel.The first European to sight the island was James Johnstone, one of George Vancouver’s officers during his 1791-95 expedition, in 1793.