Khutzeymateen Inlet
Encyclopedia
Khutzeymateen Inlet is one of the lesser principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast
. It is important in being part of the first area in Canada protected to preserve grizzly bear
s and their habitat via the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
. The inlet and the park-sanctuary surrounding it are between the mouths of the Skeena
and Nass River
s; the Khutzeymateen is the next inlet north from Work Inlet, which is the north side of the Tsimpsean Peninsula of "Greater Prince Rupert
". The inlet's mouth opens onto a sidewater of Portland Inlet
, Steamer Passage, which lies next to Sommerville Island. The entrance to Khutzeymateen Inlet is between Keemein Point and Welgeegenk Point. The closest community is Port Simpson.
The inlet is fed by the Khutzeymateen River. Over 50 grizzlies frequent the river and the inlet's shores, and the inlet's other wildlife includes wolves, moose, shorebirds, waterfowl, orca (killer whale), humpback whale
s and more.
It was first charted in 1793 by James Johnstone
and Robert Barrie
, two of George Vancouver
’s officers during his 1791-95 expedition
.
British Columbia Coast
The British Columbia Coast or BC Coast is Canada's western continental coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The usage is synonymous with the term West Coast of Canada....
. It is important in being part of the first area in Canada protected to preserve grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
s and their habitat via the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary
Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Established August 1994, northeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the purpose of the park is to protect the north coast grizzly bear by preserving a part of the ecosystem in which they live.At in size,...
. The inlet and the park-sanctuary surrounding it are between the mouths of the Skeena
Skeena River
The Skeena River is the second longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada . The Skeena is an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan - whose names mean "inside the Skeena River" and "people of the Skeena River" respectively, and also during the...
and Nass River
Nass River
The Nass River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It flows from the Coast Mountains southwest to Nass Bay, a sidewater of Portland Inlet, which connects to the North Pacific Ocean via the Dixon Entrance...
s; the Khutzeymateen is the next inlet north from Work Inlet, which is the north side of the Tsimpsean Peninsula of "Greater Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
". The inlet's mouth opens onto a sidewater of Portland Inlet
Portland Inlet
Portland Inlet is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the coast of British Columbia, Canada, approximately 55 kilometers north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. It joins the Chatham Sound opposite the Dixon Entrance. It is 40 kilometers long and as much as 13 kilometers wide...
, Steamer Passage, which lies next to Sommerville Island. The entrance to Khutzeymateen Inlet is between Keemein Point and Welgeegenk Point. The closest community is Port Simpson.
The inlet is fed by the Khutzeymateen River. Over 50 grizzlies frequent the river and the inlet's shores, and the inlet's other wildlife includes wolves, moose, shorebirds, waterfowl, orca (killer whale), humpback whale
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
s and more.
It was first charted in 1793 by James Johnstone
James Johnstone (explorer)
James Johnstone was a British naval officer and explorer. He is noted for having served as sailing master of the armed tender HMS Chatham and later acting lieutenant during George Vancouver’s 1791-95 expedition to the Pacific Northwest...
and Robert Barrie
Robert Barrie
Sir Robert Barrie KCB, KCH was a British officer of the Royal Navy noted for his service in the War of 1812....
, two of George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
’s officers during his 1791-95 expedition
Vancouver Expedition
The Vancouver Expedition was a four-and-a-half-year voyage of exploration and diplomacy, commanded by Captain George Vancouver. The expedition circumnavigated the globe, touched five continents and changed the course of history for the indigenous nations and several European empires and their...
.