Broughton Strait facts for kids

Broughton Strait is a narrow stretch of water located off the northern coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Think of a strait as a natural channel connecting two larger bodies of water. This strait separates Vancouver Island from two smaller islands: Malcolm Island and Cormorant Island.

This important waterway connects to other famous straits. To its west, you'll find the larger Queen Charlotte Strait. To the east, Broughton Strait leads into Johnstone Strait, which then connects through Discovery Passage to the Strait of Georgia.

Several communities are located along the shores of Broughton Strait. These include Port McNeill on Vancouver Island, and the villages of Sointula on Malcolm Island and Alert Bay on Cormorant Island.

Broughton Strait During World War I

During World War I, Broughton Strait played a small but important role in Canada's defense. To protect the area from enemy ships, the strait was closed off to most shipping traffic.

This was done by placing special underwater mines between Malcolm Island and Vancouver Island near a spot called McNeill Point. These mines were like hidden traps designed to stop any unwanted ships. To keep an eye on the waters at night, two small, fast boats called torpedo boats patrolled the strait. Their job was to make sure no enemy vessels tried to sneak through.