Simpson Strait facts for kids
The Simpson Strait is a natural, shallow waterway in the Arctic. It separates King William Island to the north from the Adelaide Peninsula on Nunavut's mainland to the south. This strait is part of the Arctic Ocean. It connects the Queen Maud Gulf with the Rae Strait.
The Simpson Strait is about 40 miles (64 km) long. It is also between 2 and 10 miles (3 to 16 km) wide. Many small islands are found within it. These include Albert, Beaver, Boulder, Castor, Chens, Club, Comb, Denille, Dolphin, Eta, Hook, Kilwinning, Pollux, Ristvedt, Saatuq, Sarvaq, and Taupe.
Exploring the Simpson Strait
The Simpson Strait has been an important route for explorers. It is part of the famous Northwest Passage.
Early Discoveries
The English naval officer George Back was the first European to reach the Simpson Strait. He arrived there in 1834. However, he did not give the strait a name.
In 1836, the Hudson's Bay Company wanted to explore more of the northern coast of North America. They sent two explorers on an expedition. These were the Scottish explorer Thomas Simpson and the Canadian explorer Peter Warren Dease. Simpson and Dease reached the strait in 1839. They named it "Simpson Strait" to honor Thomas Simpson.
Amundsen's Famous Journey
Many years later, in 1903, the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen traveled through the Simpson Strait. He was on his first successful journey through the Northwest Passage. This was a major achievement in Arctic exploration.
