| Feature Type: | Harbour (1) - Sheltered water in a shoreline indentation, suitable for mooring or anchoring vessels. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | E side of Vancouver Island between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, Nanaimo Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 49°09'54"N, 123°55'35"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92G/4 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Adopted in the 1909 Gazetteer of British Columbia and identified in the 10th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 30 June 1911, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart 2512, 1860 et seq. See Nanaimo (city) for name origin information. Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |
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"Bocas de Winthuysen" (Winthuysen Inlet) (various spellings) originally given in 1791 to all of the Nanaimo harbour area in honour of Francisco Javier de Winthuysen, a lieutenant-general in the Spanish navy. Often said to have been given by Narváez, but it was more probably given by Bodega y Quadra. Narváez used the name "Bocas de Hijosa" for all of Nanaimo harbour, in honour of Francisco Hijosa, the comisario at San Blas... The name Boca de Winthuysen was used by Galiano in 1792 more specifically for the Northumberland Channel. (from SHALE: Journal of the Gabriola Historial & Museum Society; Nick Doe editor) Source: included with note |