Queen Charlotte Islands British Columbia
Almost 300 km long, the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii appears to be in a rough triangular shape. At the top, it is 100 km wide and tapers to a point at Cape St. James at the south end. The Islands are located 75 km away from the American border, 120 km west of the outer islands of northern BC coastline and 770 km by air from Vancouver, BC.
Together, the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii is a collection of about 150 islands situated on the western coast of the continental shelf. Lying to the north is the Graham Island and the Moresby Island lies to the south. These two main islands are shared by 5000 people, mostly residing on Graham Island in Queen Charlotte City, Tlell, Port Clements, Masset and the two Haida communities of Skidegate and Old Masset. On the northeastern tip of Moresby Island is Sandspit. All the communities are unique and offer a great insight into island lifestyle.
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve/Haida Heritage Site is located in the southern part of Moresby Island. The beautiful west coast landscape, rich ecology and culture are managed by Parks Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation. The management, planning and operations of Gwaii Haanas are also shared by the Archipelago Management Board. For thousands of years, these islands have been home to the Haida and continue to draw hundreds of people for vacations.
According to a recent archeological inventory of the area, more than 500 Haida archaeological and historical sites have been documented. At the southern end of Gwaii Haanas, the village of SGang Gwaay is considered to be having the finest display of Haida mortuary poles, all over a hundred years old, found anywhere in the world. In 1981, UNESCO declared Nan Sdins Illnagaay (Ninstints) a World Heritage Site in consultation with the Haida.
To reach Gwaii Haanas, which is also considered a wilderness park, you will have to go through air or water. If you are travelling independently, you will have to make reservations and participate in an orientation. The community of Sandspit is located on the northeast tip of Moresby Island.
The climate of Queen Charlotte Islands is very mild and pleasant. The annual temperature is a balmy 8°C (46°F). During the summer months, the temperatures are similar to those in Northern and Central BC. On the other hand, the winter temperatures are much higher than winter temperatures of inland BC and the rest of Canada. Before you visit the Queen Charlotte Islands, be prepared for the rains. The islands have a reputation for rainfall on the east side which is similar to Vancouver and south coastal BC. The mountains on the west side of the Queen Charlotte Islands create a major rain shadow. The average annual rainfall is about 125 cm (50 inches). At about 450 cm (180 inches), the west side of the Charlottes is like the west coast of Vancouver Island and has some of the highest rainfalls in Canada.