Cortes Island, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Cortes Island is one of the archipelago
known as the Discovery Islands
in British Columbia
, Canada
which lie beyond the northern end of the Gulf of Georgia, between Vancouver Island
and the British Columbia Mainland. Cortes lies on the far side of Quadra Island
from the city of Campbell River
, separated from Quadra Island by Sutil Channel
. To the northeast across Lewis Channel is West Redonda Island
, while Desolation Sound
lies to the east of Cortes Island and beyond it, the upper end of the Malaspina Peninsula
.
Cortes Island is located roughly halfway between Powell River
and Campbell River
. The island, which is in the Sayward Land District, is 25 km (15.5 mi) long, 13 km (8.1 mi) wide, and 130 km² (50.2 sq mi)) in area. It has a population of 1,042 permanent residents (2006 census) Cortes is the largest of the Islands in Electoral Area "B" of the Strathcona Regional District
, which governs zoning and septic permits. The island is in the Sunshine Coast Forest District and the Vancouver Island Ministry of Environment's Vancouver Island Region. The entire island is part of the traditional territories of the Wei We Kai, Kwiakah
, Homalco and Klahoose First Nation
s, with the office of the Klahoose First Nation located on the island. The island's southern tip is also part of the traditional territory of the Sliammon people
.
The island was named in 1792 during the expedition of Galiano
and Valdés
, presumably after Hernán Cortés
, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico
. It is accessed by plane through a non-profit private airstrip Cortes Island (Hansen Airfield) Airport on the south end or by seaplane to many of the islands protected harbours, or by ferry from Quadra Island
, which is itself accessed from Campbell River on Vancouver Island
. Whaletown, Squirrel Cove and Mansons Landing
are communities on the island. Desolation Sound is off the east shore of the island. Forestry, fishing and mining have featured in its history. There is also a campground at Smelt Bay Provincial Park
.
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
known as the Discovery Islands
Discovery Islands
The Discovery Islands are the islands in the Discovery Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland in British Columbia. These islands are sometimes considered to be part of the Northern Gulf Islands....
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
which lie beyond the northern end of the Gulf of Georgia, between Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
and the British Columbia Mainland. Cortes lies on the far side of Quadra Island
Quadra Island
Quadra Island is an island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, part of the Discovery Islands. It is separated from Vancouver Island by Discovery Passage, and from Cortes Island by Sutil Channel...
from the city of Campbell River
Campbell River, British Columbia
Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route...
, separated from Quadra Island by Sutil Channel
Sutil Channel
Sutil Channel is a channel, or strait, in British Columbia, Canada, located at the north end of the Strait of Georgia, between Quadra Island and Read Island to the west, and Cortes Island to the east. It connects to several channels to the north, including Calm Channel and Hoskyn Channel...
. To the northeast across Lewis Channel is West Redonda Island
West Redonda Island
West Redonda Island is an island in British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Discovery Islands, an archipelago between Vancouver Island and the mainland, and between the Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait....
, while Desolation Sound
Desolation Sound
Desolation Sound is a deep water sound in British Columbia, Canada.It is a favourite destination for boaters because of its spectacular fjords, mountains, and wildlife. It is part of the Sunshine Coast....
lies to the east of Cortes Island and beyond it, the upper end of the Malaspina Peninsula
Malaspina Peninsula
The Malaspina Peninsula is a peninsula in the northern Gulf of Georgia-Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. It extends northwest from the town of Powell River, which lies near its isthmus, past the settlement of Lund, to Desolation Sound...
.
Cortes Island is located roughly halfway between Powell River
Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, that part of the larger Georgia Strait between Texada Island and the Mainland...
and Campbell River
Campbell River, British Columbia
Campbell River is a coastal city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage, which lies along the important coastal Inside Passage shipping route...
. The island, which is in the Sayward Land District, is 25 km (15.5 mi) long, 13 km (8.1 mi) wide, and 130 km² (50.2 sq mi)) in area. It has a population of 1,042 permanent residents (2006 census) Cortes is the largest of the Islands in Electoral Area "B" of the Strathcona Regional District
Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia
The Strathcona Regional District is a regional district in British Columbia, Canada. It was created on February 15, 2008, encompassing the northern and western portions of the former Regional District of Comox-Strathcona. The partition left the new Strathcona Regional District with 91.6 percent of...
, which governs zoning and septic permits. The island is in the Sunshine Coast Forest District and the Vancouver Island Ministry of Environment's Vancouver Island Region. The entire island is part of the traditional territories of the Wei We Kai, Kwiakah
Kwiakah First Nation
The Kwiakah First Nation, also known as the Kwiakah Band or Kwiakah Nation, is the band government of the Kwiakah people, a subgroup of the Laich-kwil-tach group of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples...
, Homalco and Klahoose First Nation
Klahoose First Nation
The Klahoose First Nation is a First Nations government located on Cortes Island at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia, and surrounding Toba Inlet, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada...
s, with the office of the Klahoose First Nation located on the island. The island's southern tip is also part of the traditional territory of the Sliammon people
Sliammon First Nation
The Sliammon First Nation or Tla A'min First Nation is a First Nations government located on the upper Sunshine Coast in southwestern British Columbia, Canada...
.
The island was named in 1792 during the expedition of Galiano
Dionisio Alcalá Galiano
Dionisio Alcalá Galiano was a Spanish naval officer, cartographer, and explorer. He mapped various coastlines in Europe and the Americas with unprecedented accuracy, using new technology such as chronometers...
and Valdés
Cayetano Valdés y Flores
Cayetano Valdés y Flores Bazán was a commander of the Spanish Navy, explorer, and captain general who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, fighting for both sides at different times due to the changing fortunes of Spain in the conflict...
, presumably after Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is accessed by plane through a non-profit private airstrip Cortes Island (Hansen Airfield) Airport on the south end or by seaplane to many of the islands protected harbours, or by ferry from Quadra Island
Quadra Island
Quadra Island is an island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, part of the Discovery Islands. It is separated from Vancouver Island by Discovery Passage, and from Cortes Island by Sutil Channel...
, which is itself accessed from Campbell River on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
. Whaletown, Squirrel Cove and Mansons Landing
Mansons Landing, British Columbia
Mansons Landing is an unincorporated community near the southern tip of Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada.It was originally the location of the Cortes Island Post Office [sic], which opened April 1, 1893 with Michael Manson as postmaster, and closed December 1, 1898. The post office was...
are communities on the island. Desolation Sound is off the east shore of the island. Forestry, fishing and mining have featured in its history. There is also a campground at Smelt Bay Provincial Park
Smelt Bay Provincial Park
Smelt Bay Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is located at the south end of Cortes Island, and has twenty-two camping sites. Eight are reservable and the rest are first come, first serve. There is also an overflow parking lot directly next to the beach for any...
.
External links
- cortesisland.com Cortes Island news and information website.