Cortes Island

Cortes Island

Cortes Island is located at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia.
Geography
Location	Strait of Georgia
Coordinates	50°07′N 124°58′W / 50.117°N 124.967°W / 50.117; -124.967
Archipelago	Discovery Islands
Area	130 km2 (50 sq mi)
Length	25 km (15.5 mi)
Width	13 km (8.1 mi)
Country
Canada
Demographics
Population	1042 (as of 2006[1])
Ethnic groups	Wei We Kai, Kwiakah, Homalco and Klahoose First Nations

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 sq mi)) in area. It has a population of 1,042 permanent residents (2006 census)^[1] 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 Nations, 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.^[2]:46[3] 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.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Statistics Canada population figures
2. ^ Akrigg, G.P.V.; Akrigg, Helen B. (1969), 1001 British Columbia Place Names (3rd, 1973 ed.), Vancouver: Discovery Press 
3. ^ "BCGNIS - Cortes Island". British Columbia Geographic Names Information System. http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=3982. Retrieved 2008-04-01. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• cortesisland.com Cortes Island news and information website.