Pearse Island facts for kids
Pearse Island is an island located in western British Columbia, Canada. It sits in the Portland Inlet, which is a part of the huge Pacific Ocean. The island was first explored and mapped way back in 1793 by a famous explorer named George Vancouver. He was on a big trip called the Vancouver Expedition. Later, around 1860, Captain George Henry Richards named the island after William Alfred Rombulow Pearse. William Pearse was a commander in the Royal Navy, which is like the British navy.
Where is Pearse Island?
Pearse Island is about 210 square kilometers (which is about 81 square miles) in size. It is separated from the mainland of Alaska by a narrow waterway called the Pearse Canal. This canal is only about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide and forms part of the border between Canada and the United States. The island is located about 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, a city on Canada's west coast.
Past Border Disputes
Pearse Island and other nearby islands were once part of a disagreement about where the border between Canada and the United States should be. This disagreement was called the Alaska boundary dispute. The United States used to claim Pearse Island as its own, but the dispute was eventually settled.
What's on Pearse Island?
There used to be a special area on the northeast side of Pearse Island called the Pearse Island Indian Reserve No. 43. Today, this area has a new name: Wil Milit. This change happened because of the Nisga'a Final Agreement, also known as the Nisga'a Treaty. Because of this treaty, Wil Milit is no longer an Indian Reserve. Instead, it is now owned outright by the Nisga'a Nation, similar to how someone might own their own land.
Pearse Canal Island
There is also a smaller island called Pearse Canal Island. It is located at the southern end of the Pearse Canal. This small island is important because it has a light that helps guide boats. This light is operated by the Canadian Hydrographic Service, which is responsible for mapping Canada's waters.
