Douglas Channel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Douglas Channel |
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Douglas Channel
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 Douglas Channel
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 53°40′N 129°08′W / 53.667°N 129.133°W |
| Type | Fjord |
| Ocean/sea sources | Pacific Ocean |
Douglas Channel is a long, narrow arm of the sea, like a deep valley filled with ocean water. It's a major inlet along the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It stretches from Kitimat Arm, near the town of Kitimat, all the way to Wright Sound. This part is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) long. If you include the waters leading out to the open Pacific Ocean near Hecate Strait, the total length is around 140 kilometers (87 miles). It's a type of waterway called a fjord.
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Where is Douglas Channel?
The Kitimat River flows into the Kitimat Arm, which is part of Douglas Channel. This channel was named after Sir James Douglas. He was the very first governor of the Colony of British Columbia.
Side Channels and Fjords
Douglas Channel has some important side inlets. One major one is the Gardner Canal, which is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) long. You can reach it from Kitimat Arm by going through Devastation Channel. This channel is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) long and is located on the east side of Hawkesbury Island.
South of Hawkesbury Island is Varney Passage, which is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) long. It also has a smaller side channel called Ursula Passage, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) long.
If you add up all these waterways, the total length of the fjord system around Douglas Channel is about 320 kilometers (199 miles). This makes it longer than Norway's Sognefjord and almost as long as Greenland's Scoresby Sound.
Why is Douglas Channel Important?
Douglas Channel is a very busy waterway for ships. This is because of the industries located at Kitimat.
Shipping and Industry
For a long time, ships have used the channel to bring in bauxite. Bauxite is a rock used to make aluminum. The aluminum smelter in Kitimat then ships out the finished aluminum.
In 2006, a plant that made and exported methanol (a type of alcohol used in industry) closed down.
New Shipping Traffic
The channel will become even busier when the LNG Canada terminal is finished. This terminal will store and cool natural gas, turning it into liquefied natural gas (LNG). This project is expected to be ready in 2025.
Large LNG carrier ships will load the liquefied natural gas at Kitimat. They will then carry it to other countries, mainly in Asia. This big project is led by a company called Royal Dutch Shell and some partners from Asia. It was officially approved in 2018.
Power and Nature
The Gardner Canal is also important because it's where the Kemano Generating Station is located. This power station helps supply electricity to Kitimat.
At the very end of the Gardner Canal, you'll find the mouth of the Kitlope River. This area is a major wildlife preserve. It's known for its amazing natural beauty, but also for its wild weather.
