Port Susan facts for kids

Port Susan is a large area of water, like a big bay or strait, in the state of Washington, USA. It's part of a bigger water system called Puget Sound. Port Susan has Camano Island on its west side and the mainland on its east. A river called the Stillaguamish River flows into the northern part of Port Susan. To the south, Port Susan connects to the rest of Puget Sound through two other water passages: Possession Sound and Saratoga Passage. There's also a swampy waterway at the northern end that links Port Susan to Skagit Bay, and this waterway also separates Camano Island from the mainland.

Exploring Port Susan

In the spring of 1792, an explorer named George Vancouver led an expedition. His team explored Port Susan during late May and early June of that year. They were the ones who gave Port Susan its name.

Most of Port Susan was mapped by boats led by one of Vancouver's officers, Joseph Whidbey. On June 3, 1792, George Vancouver held a special ceremony. He officially claimed the area for Britain. During this event, he named what we now call Saratoga Passage "Port Gardner." He did this to honor Vice-Admiral Sir Alan Gardner. Vancouver then named Port Susan after Sir Alan's wife, Lady Susan.