Sucia Island facts for kids
Map of Sucia and surrounding islands
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 Sucia Island
Location in Washington (state)
Location within the US state of Washington
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| Etymology | from Spanish, meaning 'dirty, foul' |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Strait of Georgia |
| Coordinates | 48°45′13″N 122°54′48″W / 48.75361°N 122.91333°W |
| Archipelago | Sucia Islands |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Echo Bay, Shallow Bay, Fossil Bay, Mud Bay, Snoring Bay |
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United States
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| State | Washington |
| County | San Juan |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 4 (2000) |
Sucia Island is a beautiful island located in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, United States. It sits about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Orcas Island. Sucia Island is the biggest of a group of ten islands. This group includes smaller islands like Little Sucia, Ewing, and Justice.
The entire island group stretches about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. Sucia Island itself is shaped a bit like a hand. The main island covers about 2.26 square kilometers (558 acres). In the year 2000, only four people lived permanently on Sucia Island. Today, Sucia Island State Park is a special Washington State Marine Park. This means it's a park mainly for boats and water activities.
Contents
Discovering Sucia Island's Past
How Did Sucia Island Get Its Name?
The name "Sucia Island" comes from a Spanish captain named Francisco de Eliza. He explored the area in 1791. He called it "Isla Sucia," which means "Dirty Island" or "Foul Island" in Spanish. This name was chosen because the waters around the island had many hidden reefs and rocks. These made it dangerous for ships.
Island Geology and Fossils
The rocky shores of Sucia Island are a result of the Earth's crust folding over time. This geological process pushed many interesting fossils to the surface. You can find some great examples of these ancient remains on the southeast side of the island. These fossils tell us about life from long, long ago.
Who Lived on Sucia Island?
Long ago, the Lummi Native American people used the quiet coves and bays of Sucia Island. They would hunt seals in these waters. Much later, in the 1800s, the island's hidden spots became perfect hideouts for people involved in illegal trade.
Becoming a State Park
In 1960, a group called the Puget Sound Interclub Association bought the Sucia Islands. They later gave the islands to the State of Washington. This generous gift helped protect the islands as a Marine State Park for everyone to enjoy.
Dinosaur Discovery
In 2012, an exciting discovery was made on Sucia Island. Scientists found a leg bone from a theropod dinosaur! This shows that dinosaurs once roamed this area.
Fun Things to Do on Sucia Island
Sucia Island State Park offers many exciting activities for visitors. You can enjoy the outdoors and explore the island's natural beauty.
- Camping
- Bird watching
- Hiking
- Rock climbing
- Kayaking
- Fishing
- Scuba diving
- Crabbing
All these activities can be enjoyed from Sucia Island State Park. The Echo Bay Campground is a great base for your adventures.
Where to Anchor Your Boat
Sucia Island has several safe places for boats to anchor or tie up. These spots are called anchorages.
Shallow Bay: A Protected Spot
Shallow Bay is on the west side of Sucia Island. It's a good place to be protected from most winds and waves. There are seven special buoys where boats can tie up. There's also space for many small boats to anchor. The bay has sandy beaches to the north. Pebble Beach is a central spot with access to camping areas. It also has a covered eating area and eco-friendly restrooms. As its name suggests, Shallow Bay is usually about 12 feet (3.7 m) deep.
Echo Bay: The Largest Anchorage
Echo Bay is the biggest anchorage on the island. It's located right across from Shallow Bay, separated by a narrow strip of land. This bay is more open to winds, especially from the southeast. There are several mooring buoys near a pebble beach where you can tie up your boat.
Fossil Bay: A Popular Choice
Fossil Bay is one of the most popular places for boats. Many small boats like to tie up to one of the two docks here. Fossil Bay is an inlet that opens towards the southeast. It's a great spot to enjoy the island's beauty.
Fox Cove: A Quiet Spot
Fox Cove is a smaller cove located just west of Fossil Bay. You can see it from Fossil Bay. This cove is bordered by Ev Henry Finger point and Little Sucia Island. It offers a more secluded experience.
Ewing Cove: Near Ewing Island
Ewing Cove is found between the northeast end of Sucia Island and Ewing Island. There's room for several boats to anchor or use a mooring buoy. A pebble beach at Ewing Cove is the end point of a 2.1-mile (3.4 km) trail. This trail leads to the center of Sucia Island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Sucia para niños
