Broughton Archipelago facts for kids
Forested islet in Beware Passage
|
|
 Broughton Archipelago
Location in British Columbia
Broughton Archipelago
Location in Canada
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Queen Charlotte Strait |
| Coordinates | 50°40′N 126°30′W / 50.667°N 126.500°W |
| Administration | |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional District | Mount Waddington |
The Broughton Archipelago is a beautiful group of islands. It is located at the eastern end of Queen Charlotte Strait. This area is in the Mount Waddington Regional District of British Columbia, Canada.
These islands are the traditional home of several Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations peoples. These include the Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, Namgis, Ma'amtagila, and Tlowitsis nations.
Contents
How the Islands Got Their Name
The Broughton Archipelago was named in 1792. George Vancouver named it to honor William Robert Broughton. Broughton was the captain of the ship HMS Chatham. This ship was part of Vancouver's expedition.
Exploring the Geography
The Broughton Archipelago is made up of many islands and smaller islets. They are spread out across the eastern part of Queen Charlotte Strait.
The biggest island in the group is Gilford Island. It covers an area of about 384 square kilometers (148 square miles). Cormorant Island is the most crowded island. In 2016, it had about 270 residents per square kilometer.
Main Islands of the Archipelago
Here are some of the major islands you can find in the Broughton Archipelago:
- Baker Island
- Bonwick Island
- Broughton Island
- Cormorant Island
- Crease Island
- East Cracroft Island
- Eden Island
- Gilford Island
- Hanson Island
- Harbledown Island
- Malcolm Island
- Midsummer Island
- Minstrel Island
- North Broughton Island
- Swanson Island
- Turnour Island
- Village Island
- Viscount Island
- Watson Island
- West Cracroft Island
Important Waterways
Many important water channels and inlets flow through the archipelago. These include:
- Beware Passage
- Broughton Strait
- Clio Channel
- Fife Sound
- Johnstone Strait
- Kingcome Inlet
- Knight Inlet
- Retreat Passage
- Tribune Channel
- Wells Passage
Fish Farming and the Environment
The Broughton Archipelago has been a place where people discuss fish farming. This is when fish are raised in pens in the ocean. Some studies have looked at how these farms might affect wild fish.
For example, a study in 2002 looked at how fish farms might relate to sea lice on wild fish. Scientists also found that waste from fish farms can harm special glass sponge reefs. These reefs are very old forms of animal life. They are unique to certain parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Protecting Nature
The archipelago is very important for its many different plants and animals. It also has many important cultural sites. To protect these areas, several parks and conservancies have been created.
These protected areas include:
- Broughton Archipelago Conservancy
- Broughton Archipelago Provincial Park
- Burdwood Group Conservancy
- Cormorant Channel Marine Provincial Park
- Echo Bay Marine Provincial Park
- Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy
See also
In Spanish: Archipiélago Broughton para niños
