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 |
The Douglas Channel is a long, narrow arm of the sea, also known as a fjord. It is located on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The Kitimat River flows into this channel.
The channel was named after Sir James Douglas. He was the very first governor of the Colony of British Columbia. From the town of Kitimat to Wright Sound, the channel stretches about 90 km (56 mi). If you include the waters leading out to the Hecate Strait, the total length reaches about 140 km (87 mi).
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Exploring Douglas Channel's Geography
The Douglas Channel system includes several other waterways. A major side-inlet is the Gardner Canal, which is about 90 km (56 mi) long. You can reach it from the Kitimat Arm of Douglas Channel. This route goes through Devastation Channel, which is about 20 km (12 mi) long.
South of Hawkesbury Island is Verney Passage, stretching for 40 km (25 mi). It has its own side-channel called Ursula Passage, which is about 30 km (19 mi) long. When you add up all these connected waterways, the Douglas Channel system is roughly 320 km (200 mi) long. This makes it one of the longest fjords in the world.
Douglas Channel and Local Industries
Douglas Channel is a very busy waterway for ships. This is because of the important industries located along its shores.
Aluminum Production at Kitimat
The town of Kitimat has a large aluminum smelter. A smelter is a factory where metal is extracted from its raw material. For aluminum, the raw material is bauxite, which arrives by ship. Once the aluminum is made, it is also shipped out from Kitimat. This makes the channel a key route for trade.
Changes in Methanol Production
There was once a plant in Kitimat that produced and exported methanol. Methanol is a type of alcohol used in many industries. However, this plant closed down in 2006.
Natural Gas Shipping
The Douglas Channel became even busier in 2025. This was when the LNG Canada natural gas terminal was completed and started working. LNG stands for liquefied natural gas. This project, led by Royal Dutch Shell and other companies, allows large LNG carrier ships to load liquefied natural gas at Kitimat. These ships then carry the gas to other countries, mainly in Asia.
Powering Kitimat: The Kemano Project
The Gardner Canal, a part of the Douglas Channel system, is important for another reason. It is home to the Kemano Generating Station. This power station was built to provide electricity for the aluminum smelter in Kitimat. The very end of the Gardner Canal is also where the Kitlope River flows into it. The Kitlope area is a beautiful wilderness preserve, known for its wildlife and stunning nature.
