Thetis Island

Thetis Island (population: 350) is an island and unincorporated community off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, lying between Vancouver Island, which is to the west across Stuart Channel, and the west from the north tip of Galiano Island, from which it is separated by Trincomali Channel. With its immediate southern neighbour Penelakut Island (formerly Kuper Island), it is one of the Gulf Islands. Thetis island is 2,560 acres (4 sq. miles)in size. It is approximately 2 miles wide and 3 miles long north to south. Two north to south land ridges define the east and west sides of the island. Burchell Hill is 591 feet above sea level, and forms the high point on the west side of Thetis island, and Moore Hill is 585 feet above sea level, and forms the high point ridge on the east side of the island.

Name origin

The island was named in 1851 after HMS Thetis, a 36-gun Royal Navy frigate commanded by Captain Augustus Leopold Kuper (after whom Kuper Island is named). The ship was named after the Nereid Thetis from Greek mythology.