Moira Sound facts for kids
Moira Sound is a long, narrow arm of the sea, also known as an inlet, located on the eastern side of Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. It is a beautiful natural area found within the large Tongass National Forest.
Exploring Moira Sound's Geography
Moira Sound is a fascinating part of Alaska's coastline. Its entrance, which is about 2 miles wide, faces Clarence Strait. This is about 25 miles north of Cape Chacon.
The sound stretches into Prince of Wales Island for about 6 miles towards the southwest. Then, it makes a sharp turn and continues northwest for another 6 to 8 miles. It gets close to other water bodies like Cholmondeley Sound and Tliakak Bay.
The land around Moira Sound is quite dramatic. Near Clarence Strait, the shores are high and steep. Further inside, especially north of Wedge Island, the shores are a bit lower. The area is filled with tall, uneven mountains covered in pine forests. These trees grow from the water's edge almost all the way to the mountain tops.
Water Features of Moira Sound
The best way to enter Moira Sound is between Adams Point and Moira Rock. The water here is generally deep, which is good for boats.
Along the southern shore, you'll find many small coves, islands, rocks, and reefs. About 8 miles from Moira Rock, the sound splits into different sections. The Western Arm is about 2.5 miles long and then divides into two smaller arms. The South Arm goes south for about 5 miles and has reefs that show at low tide.
At the entrance to Moira Sound, there are several groups of islands. Two important ones are Moira Rock, which is a bare rock about 30 feet high and has a light to guide ships. The other is White Rock, which is the bare northeast side of one of the larger wooded islands. There is no way to enter Moira Sound south of White Rock.
A Look at Moira Sound's History
Around 1914, people were exploring the area near Moira Sound for minerals. However, not much mining was happening then. Copper mines that used to be busy were quiet. Only one person lived in the region, looking after the properties and doing a little bit of prospecting.
People tried to explore a claim called Navaho, which was once known as Hope claim. It was located between Cannery Cove and North Arm. But no major work was done on any of the mining properties near Niblack during that year.
Mining in this area was difficult and expensive because the rocks were very broken and changed. A small mining spot was found in a small bay north of Black Point, near the entrance of Niblack Anchorage. Miners had dug a vertical shaft and a short tunnel there. The rocks in this area were volcanic and had black shales and slates nearby.
