Level muddy surface bordering an estuary, alternately submerged and exposed to the air by changing tidal levels. In addition to the alternating submergence and exposure, the varying influences of fresh river water and salty marine waters cause physical conditions to vary more widely than in any other marine environment. The mud of a tidal flat is usually rich in dissolved nutrients, plankton, and organic debris, and it supports large numbers of small animals such as crabs and worms. Vegetation is generally sparse, but mats of blue or blue-green algae (see cyanobacteria) may be present.

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or pan or flat or dry lake

Flat-bottomed depression that is periodically covered by water. Playas occur in interior desert basins and adjacent to coasts in arid and semiarid regions. The water that periodically covers the playa slowly filters into the groundwater system or evaporates into the atmosphere, causing the deposition of salt, sand, and mud along the bottom and around the edges of the depression.

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Flat is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the CDP is 4. According to the United States Census Bureau, it is one of only 6 places in the United States with a population of four people. The others are Blacksville, Georgia, Northwest Hancock, Maine, Township 157-30, Minnesota, Victory Township, Minnesota, and Bean's Purchase, New Hampshire.

History

Prospectors John Beaton and W.A. Dikeman discovered gold on Otter Creek on 25 December 1908. News of the discovery spread slowly, but a small rush of miners arrived in the summer of 1909 and built a small camp they called Flat City. More gold was discovered on nearby Flat Creek and a massive stampede arrived in 1910. Peter Miscovich, Lars Ostnes, and David Strandberg were prominent early arrivals that, like Beaton, successfully mined long after the initial "boomtown" had faded. By 1914, the community had expanded to about 6,000 people, complete with an elementary school, a telephone system, two stores, a hotel, restaurant, pool hall, laundry and jail. However, by 1930, the population had declined to 124. Flat was never officially townsited and sits on mining claims, making its existence illegal, but an official U.S. Post Office served the few residents until it was closed in 2000.

Geography

Flat is located at (62.454135, -158.008284), 7 miles southeast of Iditarod.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 161.1 square miles (417.2 km²), of which, 161.1 square miles (417.2 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4 people, 1 household, and 1 family residing in the town. The population density was 0.0 people per square mile (0.0/km²). There were 3 housing units at an average density of 0.0/sq mi (0.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% White.

There was 1 household, composed of a married couple with children under the age of 18 living with them.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 25.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, and 25.0% from 45 to 64. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 200.0 males.

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