Campania Island

Lax Ka’gaas/Campania Conservancy
A view looking east from the International Space Station toward Campania Island (middle) and the Estevan Group (bottom of image)
Map showing the location of Lax Ka’gaas/Campania Conservancy
Map showing the location of Lax Ka’gaas/Campania Conservancy
Nearest cityHartley Bay
Area20,504 ha (79.17 sq mi)
DesignationConservancy
EstablishedJuly 14, 2006
Governing bodyBC Parks

Campania Island is an island on the coast of the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located south of Prince Rupert, east across Hecate Strait from Haida Gwaii. To its west, across Estevan Sound, is the Estevan Group archipelago. Banks Island lies to the northwest, across Nepean Sound; and Pitt Island to the north, across Otter Channel. To the northeast, across Squally Channel, is Gil Island, and to the east is Princess Royal Island, across Campania Sound. To the south of Campania Island is Caamaño Sound, beyond which is Aristazabal Island.

Campania Island is 29 kilometres (18 mi) long and ranges in width from 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). It is 127 square kilometres (49 sq mi) in area.[2]

The name "Campania" originates from 1792 from the Spanish explorer Jacinto Caamaño, who explored the region in the corvette Aranzazu. Caamaño named the island Compañia and that spelling was used for the maps made by George Vancouver. Over time the spelling was changed to Campania.[3][4]: 36 

The island's high point is Mount Pender, at 740 metres (2,430 ft).[5]

  1. ^ "Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD)". Government of Canada. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. ^ Campania Island Archived 2005-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, The Columbia Gazetteer of North America
  3. ^ "Campania Island". BC Geographical Names.
  4. ^ Akrigg, G.P.V.; Akrigg, Helen B. (1986), British Columbia Place Names (3rd, 1997 ed.), Vancouver: UBC Press, ISBN 0-7748-0636-2
  5. ^ "Mount Pender". Bivouac.com.