Stephens Island (British Columbia)
Island in British Columbia, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stephens Island (Tsimshian: Ksgaxl) is an island in Canada, on the British Columbian Coast, to the northwest of Porcher Island, to the southwest of the city of Prince Rupert, and divides Chatham Sound from Hecate Strait.[1] The island was named by Captain Vancouver in honour of Sir Philip Stephens, secretary to the Admiralty from 1763 to 1795.[2]: 470
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Native name: Ksgaxl | |
|---|---|
Northeast end of Stephens Island, as seen from Brown Passage | |
  Stephens Island | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 54°09′28″N 130°43′54″W[1] |
| Area | 14,000 ha (35,000 acres) |
Qlawdzeet Anchorage, located at the north end of Stephens Island between Hooper Point and Avery Island, is useful for fishers and pilots, and has pilings tucked in behind Dunn Island.[3]
This is where Vancouver met Brown on 20 July 1793, with a squadron of three vessels, Butterworth, Jackal, and Prince Le Boo.[2]: 406
The island is one of the two main islands (the other is Prescott) that are part of the Ksgaxl/Stephens Island Conservancy.[4]
History
The island once contained villages comparable in size to the largest settlements in the Dundas Islands and Prince Rupert Harbour. In addition to the major villages, several smaller shell-bearing sites were found on terraces about 10 metres (33 ft) above the present shoreline. Two distinct occupation phases have been identified: one dating from approximately 6400-9500 YPB, and another from about 5000-7200 YBP.[5]
Geology
Its main geological feature is the Early Cretaceous Stephens Island pluton, which dates to the Albian era (102±8 Ma),[6] and provides the backbone connecting Mount Stephens, at 432 metres (1,417 ft),[7] 54°07′39″N 130°40′15″W[8] at the island's southeast end, to Congreve Hill, at 150 metres (490 ft)[9] 54°09′29″N 130°42′31″W in the northwest.
Indian reserves
Squaderee Indian Reserve No. 91 is located on the west side of the island's northern part, at 54°08′00″N 130°47′00″W[10] on Skiakl Bay at 54°08′17″N 130°47′02″W,[11] in which there is a small island, Skiakl Island, at 54°07′38″N 130°45′44″W.[12]
Off Stephens Island's northern tip is Avery Island at 54°12′42″N 130°45′32″W,[13] the whole of which constitutes Avery Island Indian Reserve No. 92,[14] Both it and Squadaree IR No. 9 are under the administration of the Metlakatla First Nation.[15][16] It lies in Qlawdzeet Anchorage which is at 54°12′15″N 130°46′09″W.[17] Overlooking that from the south, at the northern tip of Stephens Island itself, is Qlawd Hill at 54°11′28″N 130°46′29″W.[18]
Other features and adjoining islands
Other small islands adjoining Stephens Island include Skiakl Island, Philip Island, Parry Island, Arthur Island, and Joyce Island.[19]
Prescott Island is the largest of the small islands around Stephens Island, lying to its southeast between it and Porcher Island at 54°11′28″N 130°46′29″W.[20]