Observatory Inlet
Encyclopedia
Observatory Inlet is an inlet
on the North Coast of British Columbia
. It is a northward extension of Portland Inlet
, other sidewaters of which include the Portland Canal
. The entrance of Observatory Inlet, from Portland Inlet, lies between Ramsden Point and Nass Point. Ramsden Point also marks, to the west, the entrance of Portland Canal. Observatory Inlet was named by George Vancouver
in 1793, because he set up his observatory on the shore of the inlet, at Salmon Cove, in order to calibrate his chronometers. His two vessels, HMS Discovery
and HMS Chatham
, stayed in Salmon Cove from July 23 to August 17, 1793. During this time a boat surveying expedition under Vancouver himself explored Behm Canal
. Vancouver also named three headlands at the entrance of Observatory Inlet: Maskelyne Point, for Nevil Maskelyne
, the Astronomer Royal
, Wales Point, for William Wales
, the mathematical master who sailed with James Cook
, and Ramsden Point, after the famed mathematical instrument
-maker Jesse Ramsden
.
, fed by the Kshwan River, and Alice Arm
, an east arm, fed by the Kitsault River
. Hastings Arm is approximately 30 km in length, and runs on a nearly true north-south axis, Alice Arm is approximately 25 km in length and bends sharply, running on a roughly northeast-southwest axis. From their merger to the mouth of Observatory Inlet is approximately 50 km in length, running south-southwest to its merger with the Portland Canal just southwest of Nass Bay, which is a sidewater of Observatory Inlet and the saltwater outer estuary of the Nass.
Of many islands in the inlet, two are located at the intersection of the Hastings and Alice Arms, Granby Island and Brooke Island. Granby Island and Granby Bay are named for the mining company which operated Anyox, and also is the namesake of the Granby River
, in the Boundary Country
, and the indirect namesake of Granisle, British Columbia
, on Babine Lake
(Granby Mining Company Ltd.).
on its southern point, with the community of Gingolx
(Kincolith) located on its northern shore just inside the bay at the mouth of the Kincolith River. Also entering the Nass estuary just to its east is the Iknouk River.
The smelter ghost town
of Anyox, British Columbia
is located on the west side of the inlet at Granby Bay, which marks the beginning of Hastings Arm. At the head of Alice Arm is the locality of the same name
, which is a former steamer landing and is on the west bank of the mouth of the Kitsault River
. 2.5 km due south of it, on the far side of the inlet's shore is the former mining town of Kitsault
. Adjacent to the community of Alice Arm, but on the east side of the Kitsault River, is the Nisga'a
village site of Gits'oolh (formerly Gitzault Indian Reserve No. 24).
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
on the North Coast of British Columbia
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 a northward extension 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...
, other sidewaters of which include the Portland Canal
Portland Canal
The Portland Canal is an arm of Portland Inlet, one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast. It is approximately long. The Portland Canal forms part of the border between southeastern Alaska and British Columbia. The name of the entire inlet in the Nisga'a language is K'alii...
. The entrance of Observatory Inlet, from Portland Inlet, lies between Ramsden Point and Nass Point. Ramsden Point also marks, to the west, the entrance of Portland Canal. Observatory Inlet was named by 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...
in 1793, because he set up his observatory on the shore of the inlet, at Salmon Cove, in order to calibrate his chronometers. His two vessels, HMS Discovery
HMS Discovery (1789)
HMS Discovery was a Royal Navy ship launched in 1789 and best known as the lead ship in George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his famous 1791-1795 expedition. She was converted to a bomb vessel in 1798 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Thereafter she...
and HMS Chatham
HMS Chatham (1788)
HMS Chatham was a Royal Navy survey brig that accompanied HMS Discovery on George Vancouver's exploration of the west coast of North America in his 1791–1795 expedition. Chatham was built by King, of Dover and launched in early 1788...
, stayed in Salmon Cove from July 23 to August 17, 1793. During this time a boat surveying expedition under Vancouver himself explored Behm Canal
Behm Canal
Behm Canal is a channel in the Alexander Archipelago, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alaska.About long, Behm Canal separates Revillagigedo Island from the mainland...
. Vancouver also named three headlands at the entrance of Observatory Inlet: Maskelyne Point, for Nevil Maskelyne
Nevil Maskelyne
The Reverend Dr Nevil Maskelyne FRS was the fifth English Astronomer Royal. He held the office from 1765 to 1811.-Biography:...
, the Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
, Wales Point, for William Wales
William Wales (astronomer)
William Wales was a British mathematician and astronomer.-Early life:Wales was born around 1734 to John and Sarah Wales and was baptized in Warmfield that year...
, the mathematical master who sailed with James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
, and Ramsden Point, after the famed mathematical instrument
Mathematical instrument
A mathematical instrument is a tool or device used in the study or practice of mathematics.Most instruments are used within the field of geometry, including the ruler, dividers, protractor, set square, compass, ellipsograph and opisometer...
-maker Jesse Ramsden
Jesse Ramsden
Jesse Ramsden FRSE was an English astronomical and scientific instrument maker.Ramsden was born at Salterhebble, Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. After serving his apprenticeship with a cloth-worker in Halifax, he went in 1755 to London, where in 1758 he was apprenticed to a...
.
Geography
Observatory Inlet has two main arms, the northwest and longer one being named Hastings ArmHastings Arm
Hastings Arm is a fjord on the North Coast of British Columbia, which is the northwest arm of Observatory Inlet, one of the two main branchings of Portland Inlet, the other being the better-known Portland Canal, which forms part of the Canada-United States border...
, fed by the Kshwan River, and Alice Arm
Alice Arm
Alice Arm is the east arm of Observatory Inlet, which itself is an arm of Portland Inlet, on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, near the border with the American state of Alaska...
, an east arm, fed by the Kitsault River
Kitsault River
The Kitsault River is a river on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located at the head of Alice Arm, which is the east arm of Observatory Inlet, which is a sidewater of Portland Inlet...
. Hastings Arm is approximately 30 km in length, and runs on a nearly true north-south axis, Alice Arm is approximately 25 km in length and bends sharply, running on a roughly northeast-southwest axis. From their merger to the mouth of Observatory Inlet is approximately 50 km in length, running south-southwest to its merger with the Portland Canal just southwest of Nass Bay, which is a sidewater of Observatory Inlet and the saltwater outer estuary of the Nass.
Of many islands in the inlet, two are located at the intersection of the Hastings and Alice Arms, Granby Island and Brooke Island. Granby Island and Granby Bay are named for the mining company which operated Anyox, and also is the namesake of the Granby River
Granby River
The Granby River is a tributary of the Kettle River in British Columbia, Canada, joining the Kettle just north of the US-Canada border at the town of Grand Forks...
, in the Boundary Country
Boundary Country
The Boundary Country is a historical designation for a district in southern British Columbia lying, as its name suggests, along the boundary between Canada and the United States. It lies to the east of the southern Okanagan Valley and to the west of the West Kootenay. It is often included in...
, and the indirect namesake of Granisle, British Columbia
Granisle, British Columbia
Granisle is a village on Babine Lake in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, to the north of Topley between Burns Lake and Houston.- History :...
, on Babine Lake
Babine Lake
Babine Lake is the longest natural lake in British Columbia, Canada.Babine Lake is located northeast of the town of Burns Lake in central British Columbia, some west northwest of the city of Prince George. It is long, wide, and has a net area of and a total area of...
(Granby Mining Company Ltd.).
Settlements
At the aperture of Nass Bay is the community of ArrandaleArrandale, British Columbia
Arrandale is a settlement in British Columbia....
on its southern point, with the community of Gingolx
Gingolx
Gingolx is a Nisga'a Village in the Nass River valley in British Columbia, Canada. The village population is approximately 341 people. Gingolx is one of four Nisga'a villages that make up the Nisga'a Nation. The community itself has four clans which are Killer Whale, Eagle, Raven and Wolf...
(Kincolith) located on its northern shore just inside the bay at the mouth of the Kincolith River. Also entering the Nass estuary just to its east is the Iknouk River.
The smelter ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Anyox, British Columbia
Anyox, British Columbia
Anyox was a small company-owned mining town in British Columbia, Canada. Today it is largely destroyed and abandoned. It is located about southwest of Stewart, British Columbia on the shores of Observatory Inlet...
is located on the west side of the inlet at Granby Bay, which marks the beginning of Hastings Arm. At the head of Alice Arm is the locality of the same name
Alice Arm, British Columbia
Alice Arm is a locality and former post office and steamer landing on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located on the east side of Observatory Inlet at the mouth of the Kitsault River....
, which is a former steamer landing and is on the west bank of the mouth of the Kitsault River
Kitsault River
The Kitsault River is a river on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located at the head of Alice Arm, which is the east arm of Observatory Inlet, which is a sidewater of Portland Inlet...
. 2.5 km due south of it, on the far side of the inlet's shore is the former mining town of Kitsault
Kitsault, British Columbia
Kitsault is an unincorporated settlement on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, at the head of Alice Arm, Observatory Inlet and at the mouth of the Kitsault River. The locality of Alice Arm and the Nisga'a community of Gits'oohl are in the immediate vicinity...
. Adjacent to the community of Alice Arm, but on the east side of the Kitsault River, is the Nisga'a
Nisga'a
The Nisga’a , often formerly spelled Nishga and spelled in the Nisga’a language as Nisga’a, are an Indigenous nation or First Nation in Canada. They live in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. Their name comes from a combination of two Nisga’a words: Nisk’-"top lip" and...
village site of Gits'oolh (formerly Gitzault Indian Reserve No. 24).