Mount Sir Francis Drake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Sir Francis Drake |
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 Mount Sir Francis Drake
Location in British Columbia
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,705 m (8,875 ft) |
| Prominence | 945 m (3,100 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Parent range | Pacific Ranges |
| Topo map | NTC 93D/15 |
Mount Sir Francis Drake, standing tall at 2,705 metres (8,875 ft), is a mountain in British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Pacific Ranges, a large group of mountains. You can find it on the south side of Waddington Harbour and at the very end of Bute Inlet. This area is on the Central Coast of British Columbia, just south of where the Homathko River flows into the harbour.
Why the Mountain Has This Name
This mountain got its name in 1935. The idea to name it after Sir Francis Drake first came up in 1928. Sir Francis Drake was a famous English explorer and a "privateer." A privateer was like a pirate, but they had permission from their government (in this case, England) to attack enemy ships.
Sir Francis Drake's Journey
In 1579, Drake was the first person to sail an English ship across the Pacific Ocean. During his journey, he claimed lands north of what was then Spanish California. He called these lands "Nova Albion" for Elizabeth I, the Queen of England.
Today, most historians think he landed near Point Reyes, California. However, some people still believe he might have landed further north. For example, some theories suggest he landed as far north as Cape Blanco, Oregon, or even in British Columbia near the Stikine River.
Other Names in the Area
Mount Sir Francis Drake is one of several places in the Pacific Ranges named after people and events from the Elizabethan era (the time when Queen Elizabeth I ruled). These names were given in the 1930s by R.P. Bishop, a land surveyor in British Columbia.
Other mountains named around the same time include Mount Queen Bess, Mount Sussex, and Mount Raleigh. There is also the Golden Hinde on Vancouver Island, named after Drake's famous ship. R.P. Bishop even wrote a paper about Drake's travels called Drake's Course in the North Pacific. It was published in the British Columbia Historical Quarterly in 1939.
