Masset Inlet
Encyclopedia
Masset Inlet is a large saltwater bay
located in the heart of the lowland of northern Graham Island
, the northernmost and largest island of the Haida Gwaii islands on the North Coast of British Columbia
, Canada
. It is fed by several rivers, the largest of which is the Yakoun River
, and is connected to the open sea of the Dixon Entrance
by the narrow Masset Sound
and Masset Harbour, which opens onto McIntyre Bay. The communities of Port Clements
and Sewall
are located on the shores of Masset Inlet. The community of Juskatla
is located on Juskatla Inlet, the largest of Masset Inlet's sidewaters. There are several islands in the inlet, the largest of which is Kumdis Island, at the inlet's egress to Masset Sound and just north of Port Clements. Masset Inlet helps form the isthmus
of the Naikoon Peninsula.
According to Walbran Masset Inlet (as well as Masset Island, Masset Sound
and the village of Masset
) came from the Haida word, Masst or large island. Captain Douglas, on his second visit from Nootka Sound
aboard the Iphigenia on June 19, 1789 named the bay leading to the inlet McIntyre's Bay. This name was used on the charts of Dixon and Meares
. The American traders called the inlet, Hancock's River as shown in Ingraham's chart of 1792 after the American brig Hancock. In 1853 H.N. Knox of the Royal Navy, mate on HMS Virago did a sketch survey of the harbour when the name Masset was adopted by the British. A survey was made in 1907 by Captain Learmouth on HMS Egeria
.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
located in the heart of the lowland of northern Graham Island
Graham Island
Graham Island is the largest island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago , lying off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is separated only by a narrow channel from the other principal island of the group, Moresby Island Graham Island is the largest island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago (formerly...
, the northernmost and largest island of the Haida Gwaii islands 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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is fed by several rivers, the largest of which is the Yakoun River
Yakoun River
The Yakoun River is the largest river on Haida Gwaii, off the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Estimated to be in length, it is located on Graham Island, the northernmost and largest of the archipelago, and runs in a twisting course generally northwards from Yakoun Lake, which lies near...
, and is connected to the open sea of the Dixon Entrance
Dixon Entrance
The Dixon Entrance is a strait about long and wide in the Pacific Ocean at the International Boundary between the U.S. state of Alaska and the province of British Columbia in Canada. It was named by Joseph Banks for Captain George Dixon, a Royal Navy officer, fur trader, and explorer, who...
by the narrow Masset Sound
Masset Sound
Masset Sound is a saltwater inlet on Graham Island, the largest and northernmost of the Haida Gwaii islands of the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, connecting Masset Inlet in the island's interior with the open sea via Masset Harbour and McIntyre Bay to the Dixon Entrance. It averages in...
and Masset Harbour, which opens onto McIntyre Bay. The communities of Port Clements
Port Clements, British Columbia
Port Clements is a village situated at the east end of Masset Inlet in Haida Gwaii off the coast of the Province of British Columbia in Canada. Founded by Eli Tingley in 1907, it was once known under the name Queenstown, but renamed to Port Clements in 1914 after Herb S...
and Sewall
Sewall, British Columbia
Sewall, sometimes incorrectly spelled Sewell, is an unincorporated locality located on the north shore of Masset Inlet, on Graham Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands of the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada.-Climate:-References:...
are located on the shores of Masset Inlet. The community of Juskatla
Juskatla, British Columbia
Juskatla is a settlement on Juskatla Inlet, a sidewater off the southern end of Masset Inlet on Graham Island, the largest and northernmost of the Queen Charlotte Islands on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada....
is located on Juskatla Inlet, the largest of Masset Inlet's sidewaters. There are several islands in the inlet, the largest of which is Kumdis Island, at the inlet's egress to Masset Sound and just north of Port Clements. Masset Inlet helps form the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
of the Naikoon Peninsula.
According to Walbran Masset Inlet (as well as Masset Island, Masset Sound
Masset Sound
Masset Sound is a saltwater inlet on Graham Island, the largest and northernmost of the Haida Gwaii islands of the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, connecting Masset Inlet in the island's interior with the open sea via Masset Harbour and McIntyre Bay to the Dixon Entrance. It averages in...
and the village of Masset
Masset, British Columbia
Masset , formerly Massett, is a village in Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the northern coast of Graham Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and is approximately west of mainland British Columbia. It is the western terminus of the Yellowhead Highway...
) came from the Haida word, Masst or large island. Captain Douglas, on his second visit from Nootka Sound
Nootka Sound
Nootka Sound is a complex inlet or sound of the Pacific Ocean on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Historically also known as King George's Sound, as a strait it separates Vancouver Island and Nootka Island.-History:The inlet is part of the...
aboard the Iphigenia on June 19, 1789 named the bay leading to the inlet McIntyre's Bay. This name was used on the charts of Dixon and Meares
John Meares
John Meares was a navigator, explorer, and maritime fur trader, best known for his role in the Nootka Crisis, which brought Britain and Spain to the brink of war.- Career :...
. The American traders called the inlet, Hancock's River as shown in Ingraham's chart of 1792 after the American brig Hancock. In 1853 H.N. Knox of the Royal Navy, mate on HMS Virago did a sketch survey of the harbour when the name Masset was adopted by the British. A survey was made in 1907 by Captain Learmouth on HMS Egeria
HMS Egeria (1873)
HMS Egeria was a 4-gun screw sloop of the Fantome class launched at Pembroke on 1 November 1873. She was named after Egeria, a water nymph of Roman mythology, and was the second ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name...
.