Qcinfo.ca
Title
Queen Charlotte Islands Visitor Information Centre
Description
About the Islands
The Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii are 300 km long, in a rough triangular shape from 100 km wide across the top, tapering to a point at Cape St. James at the south end. Tucked under the coastline of islands that form the Alaska panhandle they are 75 km from the American border, approximately 120 km west of the outer islands of the northern BC coastline and 770 km by air from Vancouver, BC.
The climate of the Charlottes is very mild. The annual temperature is a balmy 8°C (46°F). The summer temperatures are similar to those in northern and central BC. It is the winter temperatures, which are moderated by the Japanese current that are much higher than winter temperatures of inland BC and the rest of Canada. The Islands have a reputation for rain. In reality, the rainfall on the east side of the islands is similar to Vancouver and south coastal BC, because the mountains on the west side of the Charlottes create a significant rain shadow. The average annual rainfall is about 125 cm (50 inches). The west side of the Charlottes is similar to the west coast of Vancouver Island and has some of the highest rainfalls in Canada at about 450 cm (180 inches).
The Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii are a collection of about 150 islands resting on the western edge of the continental shelf. There are two main islands, Graham Island to the north and Moresby Island to the south. About 5,000 people share these islands, most residing on Graham Island in the communities of Queen Charlotte City, Tlell, Port Clements, Masset and the two Haida communities of Skidegate and Old Masset. Sandspit is located on the northeastern tip of Moresby Island. A 20 minute ferry ride and 130 kilometers of pavement connect the two islands and their communities Each community is unique and collectively they offer a unique look at island living.
