Strait of Juan de Fuca: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a strait which connects Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean and provides part of the border between the United States and Canada. It was named in 1788 by the English Captain John Meares of the ship Felice for the Greek sailor who claimed to have gone on a voyage with Spanish explorers in 1592 to seek the fabled Straits of Anian.

The United States Geological Survey defines the Strait of Juan de Fuca as a channel. It extends east from the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver Island, Canada, and the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, to Haro Strait, San Juan Channel, Rosario Strait, and Puget Sound. Its Pacific Ocean boundary is formed by a line between Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Island, Washington, and Carmanah Point (Vancouver Island), British Columbia. Its northern boundary follows the shoreline of Vancouver Island to Gonzales Point, then follows a continuous line east to Seabird Point (Discovery Island), British Columbia, Cattle Point (San Juan Islands), Washington, Iceberg Point (Lopez Island), Point Colville (Lopez Island), and then over Rosario Head (Fidalgo Island). The eastern boundary is a continuous line extending south from Rosario Head along Whidbey Island to Point Partridge and south to Point Wilson (Quimper Peninsula). The Washington mainland forms the southern boundary of the strait.

Counties along the Strait of Juan de Fuca:

• Clallam County, Washington
• Jefferson County, Washington
• Island County, Washington
• San Juan County, Washington

Regional districts along the Strait of Juan de Fuca:

• Capital Regional District, British Columbia

Source: United States Geological Survey

Geography and Location

Aerial map