Clarence Strait

Not to be confused with Clarence Streit.
For other uses, see Clarence Strait (disambiguation).

55°59′20″N 132°36′57″W / 55.98889°N 132.61583°W / 55.98889; -132.61583

Clarence Strait, seen from the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey survey ship USC&GS Pathfinder in 1958.

Clarence Strait, originally Duke of Clarence Strait,[1] is a strait in southeastern Alaska, in the United States in the Alexander Archipelago. The strait separates Prince of Wales Island, on the west side, from Revillagigedo Island and Annette Island, on the east side. Clarence Strait is 126 miles (203 km) long, extending from Dixon Entrance to Sumner Strait.[2] Moira Sound is on the west side of the strait.

Clarence Strait was named in 1793 by George Vancouver in honor of Prince William, Duke of Clarence. Jacinto Caamaño, who had explored the region a year before Vancouver, named the strait Entrada de Nuestra Senora del Carmen.[2]

The Guard Island Light and Lincoln Rocks Light, both located adjacent to Clarence Strait, were important aids-to-navigation in the Clarence Strait area in the pre-automated era.

  1. ^ Statement of facts regarding the Alaska boundary question, p.1395 Archived 2011-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, Alexander Begg, Victoria, British Columbia, publ. R. Wolfenden, 1902]
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clarence Strait