Sonora Island (British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
Sonora Island is one of the outer islands (without ferry service) of the Discovery Islands
of British Columbia
, Canada
.
The island took its name from the 36 ft (10.97 m) Spanish schooner that explored the Pacific Northwest
in 1775.
The expedition consisted of two ships: the Santiago, commanded by Bruno de Heceta
and the schooner Sonora (la Señora), commanded by his second in command, Lieutenant Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
. After some loss of life, Hezeta decided to return to Mexico, but Bodega y Quadra refused to follow him without having completed the essential mission, which was to locate the Russians. He continued northward on the Sonora and got as far as what is now close to Sitka, Alaska, reaching 59˚ North Latitude on August 15, 1775. Failing to find any Russians, he returned southward. When returning he made sure that he landed once to claim the coast for Spain. This expedition made it clear to the Spanish that the Russians didn't have a large presence in the Pacific Northwest. The vessel, its full name Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (generally known as the Señora) with a crew of 16 was intended to perform coastal reconnaissance and mapping, and could make landfall in places the larger Santiago was unable to approach on its previous voyage; in this way, the expedition could officially lay claim to the lands north of Mexico it visited.
The island includes Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park
on the west side of the island (accessible only by sea) and resorts on the east and south sides of the island.
The island is the location of the Sonora Resort.
A narrow passage between Sonora and Maurelle Islands, Hole In The Wall, is the site of extremely powerful tidal currents and whirlpools.
Discovery Mountain, on the western part of Sonora Island, has a Canadian Coast Guard
radiocommunication station.
Discovery Islands
The Discovery Islands are the islands in the Discovery Passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland in British Columbia. These islands are sometimes considered to be part of the Northern Gulf Islands....
of 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...
, 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...
.
The island took its name from the 36 ft (10.97 m) Spanish schooner that explored the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
in 1775.
The expedition consisted of two ships: the Santiago, commanded by Bruno de Heceta
Bruno de Heceta
Bruno de Heceta y Dudagoitia was a Spanish Basque explorer of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Bilbao of an old Basque family, he was sent by the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, to explore the area north of Alta California in response to information that there were colonial...
and the schooner Sonora (la Señora), commanded by his second in command, Lieutenant Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was a Spanish naval officer born in Lima, Peru. Assigned to the Pacific coast Spanish Naval Department base at San Blas, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain , this navigator explored the Northwest Coast of North America as far north as present day Alaska.Juan...
. After some loss of life, Hezeta decided to return to Mexico, but Bodega y Quadra refused to follow him without having completed the essential mission, which was to locate the Russians. He continued northward on the Sonora and got as far as what is now close to Sitka, Alaska, reaching 59˚ North Latitude on August 15, 1775. Failing to find any Russians, he returned southward. When returning he made sure that he landed once to claim the coast for Spain. This expedition made it clear to the Spanish that the Russians didn't have a large presence in the Pacific Northwest. The vessel, its full name Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (generally known as the Señora) with a crew of 16 was intended to perform coastal reconnaissance and mapping, and could make landfall in places the larger Santiago was unable to approach on its previous voyage; in this way, the expedition could officially lay claim to the lands north of Mexico it visited.
The island includes Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park
Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park
Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park is a provincial park on the northwest side of Sonora Island in British Columbia, Canada.-External links:**...
on the west side of the island (accessible only by sea) and resorts on the east and south sides of the island.
The island is the location of the Sonora Resort.
A narrow passage between Sonora and Maurelle Islands, Hole In The Wall, is the site of extremely powerful tidal currents and whirlpools.
Discovery Mountain, on the western part of Sonora Island, has a Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
radiocommunication station.