Moresby Island

Moresby Island (Haida: Gwaii Haanas) is a large island (3,399.39 km2 or 1,312.51 sq mi) that forms part of the Haida Gwaii archipelago (formerly known as Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia, Canada, located at 52°45′00″N 131°50′00″W.[1] It is separated by the narrow Skidegate Channel from the other principal island of the group to the north, Graham Island.

For other uses, see Moresby Island (disambiguation).

Moresby Island
Gwaii Haanas (Haida)
Haida Gwaii. Moresby Island is the large southern island. Alaska lies north
Moresby Island is located in British Columbia
Moresby Island
Moresby Island
Moresby Island (British Columbia, Canada)
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates52.75°N 131.8333°W / 52.75; -131.8333
ArchipelagoHaida Gwaii
Area3,399.39 km2 (1,312.51 sq mi)
Administration
Canada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional District Electoral AreaNorth Coast Regional District Electoral Area E
Electoral Area DirectorEvan Putterill
Largest settlementSandspit
Demographics
Population340 (2016)
Pop. density0.10/km2 (0.26/sq mi)
Newcombe Peak in April 2013
Tasu Mountain Range in May 2006

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site includes Moresby and other islands. The island, together with numerous nearby smaller islands and islets in the southern archipelago, is defined by Statistics Canada as Skeena-Queen Charlotte E (Now North Coast Regional District Area E), with a population of 340 as of the 2016 census. Almost all of its population resided in the unincorporated community of Sandspit, on the northeast corner of Moresby. The total land area of the electoral area is 3,399.39 km2 (1,312.51 sq mi).

Tasu Mountain View

Moresby Island is the 175th largest island in the world, and the 32nd largest island in Canada.

On October 27, 2012, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 (the strongest earthquake in Canada since the 1949 Queen Charlotte Islands earthquake) was epicentred at a depth of 17.5 kilometres (10.9 miles) under the island.[2]

Name

Moresby Island is named for Rear Admiral Fairfax Moresby of the Royal Navy, as is the smaller Moresby Island in the Gulf Islands. The traditional name in the Haida language is Gwaii Haanas, which is the source of the national park name.

References
  1. "Moresby Island". BC Geographical Names.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey October 28, 2012 Haida Gwaii earthquake
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