West Cracroft Island facts for kids
West Cracroft Island is an island located in Canada, off the Central Coast of British Columbia. You can find it east of a place called Port McNeill. It's the bigger of two islands known as the Cracroft Islands. The other one is East Cracroft Island. These two islands are special because when the tide is low, they actually connect and become one large island!
How Did West Cracroft Island Get Its Name?
The Cracroft Islands got their name in 1861. A ship captain named Richards, from a vessel called HMS Plumper, decided to name them after a woman named Sophia Cracroft.
Who Was Sophia Cracroft?
Sophia Cracroft was the niece of a famous explorer, Sir John Franklin. She traveled with Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John's wife, on a trip around the world. Their journey brought them to British Columbia in 1858, right when the Fraser Gold Rush was happening. This was a time when many people came to British Columbia hoping to find gold.
Sophia and Lady Franklin stayed in British Columbia for a while. They explored the coast in 1861 before heading back to England.
Other Places Named After the Franklins
Because of their explorations, other places in the area are also named after Sophia and the Franklins:
- The Sophia Islets are small islands located southwest of West Craccroft Island, named after Sophia Cracroft.
- Cracroft Point is the very western tip of West Cracroft Island.
- The Franklin Range is a mountain range across the Johnstone Strait on Vancouver Island. This range is named after Sir John and Lady Franklin themselves.
