Kitsault facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kitsault
Chandra Krishnan Kitsault
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| Kitsault | |
 Kitsault
Location in British Columbia
Kitsault
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional district | Kitimat–Stikine |
| Population
(2008)
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| • Total | 1 |
| Area code(s) | 250, 778 |
Kitsault, also known as Chandra Krishnan Kitsault, is a small, private town in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the beautiful North Coast, where the Kitsault River meets Alice Arm. Nearby, you'll find the community of Alice Arm and the Nisga'a community of Gits'oohl. The name "Kitsault" comes from "Gits'oohl," which means "a ways in behind."
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History of Kitsault
Kitsault was first built in 1979. It was created to house workers for a molybdenum mine. Molybdenum is a metal used to make strong steel. The mine was run by an American company called Phelps Dodge.
A Town Built for Mining
The town of Kitsault was designed to be home for about 1,200 people. It had many facilities for its residents. These included a shopping mall, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and even a bowling alley. It was a fully planned community.
Becoming a Ghost Town
However, the good times did not last long. In 1982, the price of molybdenum dropped very quickly. This made the mine unprofitable. After only 18 months, the entire town had to be evacuated. Everyone left, and Kitsault became a ghost town.
New Ownership and Future Plans
In 2004, an Indian-Canadian businessman named Krishnan Suthanthiran bought the empty town. He paid $5.7 million for it. He has spent millions more to keep the town maintained. He even renamed it "Chandra Krishnan Kitsault" in honor of his mother. He has also closed the town to the public.
There are plans to bring Kitsault back to life. One idea is to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal there. This terminal would help export natural gas from British Columbia to other countries. Pipelines would be built to bring the gas to Kitsault.
