Cormorant Island (British Columbia) facts for kids
Cormorant Island is a small island located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It sits in Queen Charlotte Strait, south of Malcolm Island and east of Port McNeill. The island covers an area of about 4 square kilometers.
About 950 people lived on Cormorant Island in 2016. They live in four main communities: the village of Alert Bay, and areas belonging to the 'Namgis First Nation, Whe-le-le-u Area Council, and Regional District of Mount Waddington. Many island residents, about 6 out of 10 people, live on special lands called reserves. These reserves make up about 30% of the island's total land.
You can reach Cormorant Island by boat or by air. BC Ferries runs a ferry service that carries both people and cars. This ferry connects Cormorant Island with Malcolm Island and Port McNeill several times a day. For air travel, the island has two airports. Alert Bay Water Aerodrome is for floatplanes, which land on the water. Alert Bay Airport is for regular airplanes.
How Cormorant Island Got Its Name
Naming the Island
Cormorant Island received its name in 1846. It was named after a ship called HMS Cormorant. This naming was done by the ship's commander, George T. Gordon.
The Ship HMS Cormorant
The HMS Cormorant was a special type of ship called a paddle sloop. It was part of the Royal Navy's Pacific Station fleet from 1844 to 1850. This ship was very important because it was the first naval steam-powered vessel to sail in the waters of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
