Clarence Islands facts for kids
 Clarence Islands
Location in Nunavut
Clarence Islands
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Northern Canada |
| Coordinates | 69°55′00″N 097°19′59″W / 69.91667°N 97.33306°W |
| Archipelago | Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Area | 55 km2 (21 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Territory | Nunavut |
| Region | Kitikmeot |
The Clarence Islands are a group of islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. They are located in the Nunavut Territory, which is part of Northern Canada.
These islands are found in the James Ross Strait. They are about 10 miles (16 km) east of Cape Felix, which is off the northeast coast of King William Island. The Clarence Islands are also about 40 km (25 mi) west of Kent Bay on the Boothia Peninsula. They lie roughly 40 km (25 mi) northwest of the Tennent Islands.
Contents
Exploring the Clarence Islands
Early Expeditions
In the early 1800s, explorers from Europe traveled to the Arctic. They wanted to map the land and find new routes. One important explorer was Captain John Ross. He led a second Arctic trip from 1829 to 1833. He hoped to prove himself after making a mistake on an earlier map.
John Ross's nephew, Commander James Clark Ross, was second in command. In 1830, James Ross explored the Ross Strait. He found and mapped three islands. He first named them the "Beaufort Islands." This name honored Captain Francis Beaufort, who was a map expert for the British Navy. James Ross also named the individual islands Adolphus, Frederick, and Augustus. These were the names of three sons of the Duke of Clarence.
A Royal Name Change
When the expedition returned home in 1833, they learned something big. The Duke of Clarence had become King William IV in 1830!
Captain John Ross then looked at his expedition's maps with Captain Beaufort and the new king. John Ross made some changes to the map. He added six more islands and three capes. He gave them names from the royal Clarence and Fitz-Clarence families. He also renamed the whole group of islands the "Clarence Islands."
The Mystery of the Missing Islands
As the leader of the expedition, John Ross could usually name new places he found. However, he was not supposed to add places to maps that did not exist.
Lady Jane Franklin, another famous explorer's wife, wrote about this in her diary. She met with Captain Beaufort. He told her a surprising story about the Clarence Islands.
Captain Beaufort said that when the map was first shown to him, there were only three islands. But after John Ross suggested naming them for the King, the King agreed. Then, John Ross seemed to think it would be a good idea to add more islands. This way, all the King's family members could have an island named after them!
Later, Captain James Ross confirmed this story. He said that his uncle, John Ross, had never actually seen the extra islands. James Ross said that he was the one who had truly mapped the original three islands. This means some of the islands on the map were not real!
See also
In Spanish: Islas Clarence para niños
