Seymour Narrows
Encyclopedia
Seymour Narrows is a 5 km (3.1 mi) section of the Discovery Passage
in British Columbia
known for strong tidal currents. Discovery Passage lies between Vancouver Island
at Menzies Bay, British Columbia
and Quadra Island
except at its northern end where the eastern shoreline is Sonora Island
. The section known as Seymour Narrows begins about 18 km (11.2 mi) from the south end of Discovery Passage where it enters the Georgia Strait near Campbell River
. For most of the length of the narrows, the channel is about 750 meters wide. Through this narrow channel, currents can reach 15 kn.
Seymour Narrows was described by Captain George Vancouver
as "one of the vilest stretches of water in the world." Even after Ripple Rock
was removed, it remains a challenging route. In March 1981, the Star Philippine, a freighter ran aground in the narrows.
Seymour Narrows is notable also because the flowing current can be sufficiently turbulent to realize a Reynolds number of about
, i.e. one billion, which is possibly the largest Reynolds number regularly attained in natural water channels on Earth (the current speed is about 8 m/s, the nominal depth about 100 m). Turbulence develops usually around a Reynolds number of 2000, depending on the geometric structure of the channel.
was one of the rock's first recorded victims. On April 5, 1958, after twenty-seven months of tunneling and engineering work, Ripple Rock was blown up with 1,375 tons of Nitramex 2H explosive making it the largest commercial, non-nuclear blast in North America. The Halifax explosion
in 1917 was larger but it was not a deliberate act.
The event was broadcast live on Canadian Television. The footage is also regularly screened at the Campbell River Museum.
Vancouver band The Evaporators
wrote a song about the event and released it on their 2004 album Ripple Rock
.
Discovery Passage
Discovery Passage is a channel that forms part of the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the Discovery Islands which lie off the British Columbia coast north of the Georgia Strait. It was named by Captain Vancouver for his ship, the HMS Discovery...
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...
known for strong tidal currents. Discovery Passage lies 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...
at Menzies Bay, British Columbia
Menzies Bay, British Columbia
Menzies Bay is a large bay adjoining Seymour Narrows and Quadra Island north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island.It was once considered in 1872 as a crossing point to Vancouver Island for the Canadian Pacific Railway from...
and 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...
except at its northern end where the eastern shoreline is Sonora Island
Sonora Island (British Columbia)
Sonora Island is one of the outer islands of the Discovery Islands of British Columbia, Canada.The island took its name from the Spanish schooner that explored the Pacific Northwest in 1775....
. The section known as Seymour Narrows begins about 18 km (11.2 mi) from the south end of Discovery Passage where it enters the Georgia Strait near 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...
. For most of the length of the narrows, the channel is about 750 meters wide. Through this narrow channel, currents can reach 15 kn.
Seymour Narrows was described by Captain 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...
as "one of the vilest stretches of water in the world." Even after Ripple Rock
Ripple Rock
Ripple Rock was an underwater, twin-peaked mountain in the Seymour Narrows of the Discovery Passage in British Columbia, Canada, a part of the marine trade route from Vancouver and coastal points north. The nearest town was Campbell River...
was removed, it remains a challenging route. In March 1981, the Star Philippine, a freighter ran aground in the narrows.
Seymour Narrows is notable also because the flowing current can be sufficiently turbulent to realize a Reynolds number of about
, i.e. one billion, which is possibly the largest Reynolds number regularly attained in natural water channels on Earth (the current speed is about 8 m/s, the nominal depth about 100 m). Turbulence develops usually around a Reynolds number of 2000, depending on the geometric structure of the channel.Ripple Rock
Ripple Rock was a submerged twin-peak mountain that lay just nine feet beneath the surface of Seymour Narrows. It was a serious hazard to shipping, sinking 119 vessels and taking 114 lives. The gunboat USS SaranacUSS Saranac (1848)
USS Saranac – a sloop of war -- was laid down in 1847 during the Mexican-American War; however, by the time she completed sea trials, the war was over. She was commissioned in 1850 and saw service protecting American interests in the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Pacific Ocean. When the American...
was one of the rock's first recorded victims. On April 5, 1958, after twenty-seven months of tunneling and engineering work, Ripple Rock was blown up with 1,375 tons of Nitramex 2H explosive making it the largest commercial, non-nuclear blast in North America. The Halifax explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
in 1917 was larger but it was not a deliberate act.
The event was broadcast live on Canadian Television. The footage is also regularly screened at the Campbell River Museum.
Vancouver band The Evaporators
The Evaporators
The Evaporators is a Canadian punk rock band formed in 1986 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nardwuar, its founding member, is known for interviewing politicians and celebrities.-History:...
wrote a song about the event and released it on their 2004 album Ripple Rock
Ripple Rock (album)
Ripple Rock is The Evaporators' third album. It was released in 2004 in Canada by Mint Records and Nardwuar Records and elsewhere by Alternative Tentacles. The vinyl contained a free copy of Thee Dublins' self-titled 7"...
.
External links
- Overview of Seymour Narrows
- Ripple Rock Explosion, Vancouver Island
- Ripple Rock blown up - Unforgettable Moments - CBC Archives (Video)
- Campbell River Museum official website
- Ripple Rock page
- Navigating Seymour Narrows
- Freighter Aground in Canada, in the New York Times, March 18, 1981