Bucareli Bay facts for kids

Bucareli Bay is a large bay located in Alaska, a state in the United States. It's part of the Alexander Archipelago, which is a group of many islands found in the southeastern part of Alaska.

This bay is situated off the western coast of Prince of Wales Island. It lies between two other islands called Baker Island and Suemez Island. To the east, Bucareli Bay connects to other water areas like San Alberto Bay. To the west, it opens directly into the vast Pacific Ocean. Bucareli Bay is quite long, stretching for about 25 miles (40 kilometers).

How Bucareli Bay Got Its Name

The name "Bucareli" was given to the bay in 1775 by a Spanish explorer named Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra. He originally called it "Puerto y Entrada de Bucareli," which means "Port and Entrance of Bucareli."

He named it in honor of Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa. At that time, Bucareli y Ursúa was the viceroy of New Spain. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a large area, in this case, New Spain, which included much of North America, for the King of Spain.

In the 1790s, another famous explorer, George Vancouver, also referred to the bay using a similar name, "Puerto del Baylio Bucareli," after seeing Spanish maps.

Early Explorers of Bucareli Bay

Spanish explorers visited Bucareli Bay many times in the late 1700s. Francisco Antonio Mourelle was with Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra when they first explored the bay. Mourelle wrote about seeing what he thought were erupting volcanoes. However, it's more likely he was seeing large forest fires in the area.

Another explorer, Ignacio de Arteaga y Bazán, visited the bay in 1779, also accompanied by Quadra and Mourelle. These early visits helped map the coast of Alaska and learn more about its geography.