Byng Inlet (Ontario) facts for kids
Byng Inlet is a special area of water located in Ontario, Canada. It sits on the eastern side of Georgian Bay, which is a large bay of Lake Huron. You can find Byng Inlet between the town of Parry Sound and the mouth of the French River.
Byng Inlet is actually a wider part of the Magnetawan River as it gets close to Georgian Bay. The name "Magnetawan" comes from the Ojibwe language, an Indigenous language. It means "long open channel," which perfectly describes this wide section of the river.
History of Byng Inlet
How Byng Inlet Got Its Name
Byng Inlet was named to honor John Byng, who was a British Naval officer. Captain Henry Wolsey Bayfield gave it this name. Captain Bayfield was a very important person who created detailed maps, called charts, of the Canadian shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior.
Before this, he worked with Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen to survey, or carefully measure and map, the lower Great Lakes like Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. In 1819, Bayfield set up his main office at the Naval Establishment in Penetanguishene while he was mapping this region. He returned to England in 1825 to prepare his charts for printing.
The Wreck of the Northern Belle
On November 10, 1898, a steamship called the Northern Belle caught fire in Byng Inlet. A steamship is a boat powered by a steam engine. The fire was very serious and destroyed the ship.
Today, the remains of the Northern Belle are still in the water. This wreck is a popular spot for people who enjoy recreational diving. Divers can explore the underwater site where the ship sank.
