Banks Island British Columbia Explained

Banks Island British Columbia is a remote and rugged place, located in the Haida Gwaii archipelago off the coast of British Columbia. It's part of the traditional territory of the Haida Nation.

Banks Island is approximately 45 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide, making it a significant size in this archipelago. The island is known for its dense forests, rocky coastline, and numerous inlets and coves.

The island's terrain is characterized by steep cliffs, rocky outcroppings, and dense vegetation, making it a challenging place to explore.

Banks Island is a massive piece of land, covering an area of 70,028 km².

Located in British Columbia, it's the world's 24th largest island and Canada's fifth largest island. Its length is approximately 380 km, and at its widest point, it's about 290 km across.

The highest point on the island is Durham Heights, which rises to an impressive 730 m.

Banks Island, located in the Pacific Ocean, has a rich history of exploration and encounter with indigenous peoples. British fur traders James Colnett and Charles Duncan arrived at the island in late August 1787.

Calamity Bay, at the south end of Banks Island, was the site of their arrival and a series of first contact encounters with the Kitkatla Tsimshian. These encounters turned violent, with the British using muskets, pistols, and cannons.

The British used boats to explore the complex waterways of the region, including Principe Channel, Douglas Channel, and Laredo Sound. This led to the production of the first significant maps of the area.

The Spanish explorer Jacinto Caamaño explored the region in 1792, passing through Principe Channel in the corvette Aranzazu. He was aided by copies of maps made by Colnett.

Caamaño spent a month on Pitt Island, interacting with the Tsimshian of Pitt and Banks Islands. His voyage was prompted by the Viceroy of New Spain's order to explore the incompletely mapped inlets of the region.

Banks Island is a massive landmass, covering an area of 70,028 km², making it the world's 24th largest island and Canada's fifth largest island.

At 380 km long, the island stretches out quite a way, and its width varies, but at its northern end, it's about 290 km across.

The highest point on the island is Durham Heights, which rises to a height of about 730 m.

Banks Island, British Columbia, has a rich history of exploration and settlement.

The island was first sighted by British explorer George Vancouver in 1793, and it remained largely untouched until the early 20th century.

The island's remote location made it difficult to access, but it also preserved its natural beauty and wildlife.

In the 1920s, the island was home to a small community of trappers and hunters, who lived in the island's interior.