Broughton Island (British Columbia) facts for kids
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Broughton Island is an island located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is part of a group of islands known as the Broughton Archipelago. This area is found in the Queen Charlotte Strait, which is a large body of water along the Central Coast of British Columbia. Broughton Island is situated to the northwest of Gilford Island.
A shallow bay called Broughton Lagoon can be found on the north side of Broughton Island. Its exact location is 50°50′02″N 126°41′40″W / 50.83389°N 126.69444°W. Just north of Broughton Island, you will also find North Broughton Island.
How Broughton Island Got Its Name
Broughton Island, the Broughton Archipelago, and Broughton Strait nearby, all got their names from an important explorer. They were named in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver. He named them after Commander William Robert Broughton.
Commander Broughton was the captain of a ship called HMS Chatham. This was during Captain Vancouver's first time exploring the coast of British Columbia. Later, when Commander Broughton returned to the area, he was captain of another ship, HMS Providence.
On July 28, 1792, Captain Vancouver's ship, HMS Discovery, and Commander Broughton's ship, HMS Chatham, were anchored near the south shore of this island. Naming places after important people or events was a common practice during these explorations.
