Strait of Juan de Fuca

The Strait of Juan de Fuca (also called Juan de Fuca Strait) is a large body of water about online at [http://books.google.com/books?id=sl57oHrVXGoC Google Books] ; and cite book |last= Pethick |first= Derek |title= The Nootka Connection: Europe and the Northwest Coast 1790-1795 |year= 1980 |publisher= Douglas & McIntyre |location= Vancouver |isbn= 0-88894-279-6 |pages= p. 24] The strait was explored in detail between 1789 and 1791 by Manuel Quimper, José María Narváez, Juan Carrasco, Gonzalo López de Haro, and Francisco de Eliza.

Definition

The USGS defines the Strait of Juan de Fuca as a channel. It extends east from the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, to Haro Strait, San Juan Channel, Rosario Strait, and Puget Sound. The Pacific Ocean boundary is formed by a line between Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Island, Washington, and Carmanah Point (Vancouver Island), British Columbia. Its northern boundary follows the shoreline of Vancouver Island to Gonzales Point, then follows a continuous line east to Seabird Point (Discovery Island), British Columbia, Cattle Point (San Juan Island), Washington, Iceberg Point (Lopez Island), Point Colville (Lopez Island), and then to Rosario Head (Fidalgo Island). The eastern boundary runs south from Rosario Head across Deception Pass to Whidbey Island, then along the western coast of Whidbey Island to Point Partridge, then across Admiralty Inlet to Point Wilson (Quimper Peninsula). The northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula forms the southern boundary of the strait.

Weather

Because it is exposed to the generally westerly winds and waves of the Pacific, seas and weather in Juan de Fuca Strait are, on average, rougher than in the more protected waters inland.

Ferries

An international vehicle ferry crosses the Strait from Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia several times each day, as do passenger ferries of the Washington State Ferry system and a private high-speed ferry between Victoria and Seattle.

Boundary dispute

This strait remains the subject of a maritime boundary dispute between British Columbia and the U.S. The governments of Canada and the United States have proposed a boundary based on equidistance principles, while British Columbia argues that the submarine Juan de Fuca Canyon is the appropriate "geomorphic and physiogeographic boundary." [See Fogarassy, Tony, [http://www.cwilson.com/pubs/energy/alaska.pdf The Alaska Boundary Dispute: History and International Law] , Clark Wilson, LLP at 3, citing Office of the Premier, Province of British Columbia, "Submission of the Province of British Columbia on West Coast Maritime Boundaries Between Canada and the United States" (1977). See also, generally, The CIA World Factbook, 2006.]

Counties and regional districts

Counties along the Strait of Juan de Fuca:
*Clallam County, Washington
*Jefferson County, Washington
*Island County, Washington
*San Juan County, Washington

Regional districts along the Strait of Juan de Fuca:
*Capital Regional District, British Columbia

ee also

* Race Rocks Marine Protected Area
* List of areas disputed by the United States and Canada
* Oregon boundary dispute

References

External links

* [http://www.racerocks.com View the Strait of Juan de Fuca by remote camera 5 from Race Rocks ]