Prince of Wales Strait facts for kids
The Prince of Wales Strait is a narrow waterway in Canada. It is located in the Northwest Territories. This strait separates two large islands: Banks Island and Victoria Island. It connects Viscount Melville Sound in the northeast to Amundsen Gulf in the southwest. For much of the year, the strait is covered in thick ice. This ice usually does not melt until August, if it melts at all. The strait is named after Prince of Wales Island, which is located far to the east.
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About the Prince of Wales Strait
A strait is a narrow channel of water. It connects two larger bodies of water. The Prince of Wales Strait is an important part of the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Parry Channel is a long waterway that leads west from Baffin Bay. It connects to the Prince of Wales Strait or M'Clure Strait.
Famous Explorers and Journeys
Many explorers have traveled through or near the Prince of Wales Strait.
Robert McClure's Discovery
In 1850, explorer Robert McClure reached the strait from the west. His ship became stuck in the ice. A small team traveled by sled and found that the strait connected to the Parry Channel. Even though McClure never sailed through the whole strait, he was sure it connected to the known channel. He even provided accurate coordinates for its eastern exit. This event is often seen as the discovery of the first Northwest Passage by sea. However, people thought the strait was too icy for ships to use. McClure eventually completed his journey across the Canadian Arctic. He became the first person to sail around North and South America.
Later Passages
Richard Collinson entered the strait again in 1851. The first ship to successfully sail through the Prince of Wales Strait was in 1944. This was done by Henry Larsen. He used this route after he could not get through the M'Clure Strait. In 1969, a large oil tanker named SS Manhattan also used the strait. It was forced to use this route because ice blocked the M'Clure Strait. The Prince of Wales Strait is less than 24 mi (39 km) wide at its narrowest point. This means that ships using it pass through waters that are clearly part of Canada. These are known as Canadian Internal Waters.
