kids encyclopedia robot

Blakely Island, Washington facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Blakely
Native name:
XEMXEMIȽĆ
Blakely Island locator map.svg
Location of Blakely Island in the San Juans
Blakely is located in Washington (state)
Blakely
Blakely
Location in Washington (state)
Geography
Location Pacific Northwest
Coordinates 48°33′37″N 122°48′09″W / 48.56025°N 122.80243°W / 48.56025; -122.80243
Archipelago San Juan Islands
Area 6.507 sq mi (16.85 km2)
Administration
United States
State Washington
County San Juan County
Demographics
Population 56 (2000)

Blakely Island (SENĆOŦEN: XEMXEMIȽĆ) in San Juan County, Washington is the sixth largest island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, United States, encompassing a land area of 16.852 km2 (6.507 sq m). It is separated from Cypress Island to the east by Rosario Strait. The population was 56 persons as of the 2000 census.

There is no immediate public access to Blakely Island and it can only be reached by private ferry or boat.

History

Blakely Island was named by Charles Wilkes during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, in honor of Johnston Blakeley, a naval commander during the War of 1812. Thatcher bay, on the island's east coast, was the site of seasonal Samish tribal villages and, during the territorial period, the mill town of Thatcher, Washington. In 2014, toxic creosote pilings left over from earlier habitation were removed from the waters of Thatcher bay.

Infrastructure

Blakely Island from Thatcher Pass 01
Blakely Island, seen from Washington State Ferry through Thatcher Pass.

There is no public ferry service to Blakely Island. Access is only by boat or private ferry, arriving at the marina at the northern tip of the island. There is also a private airstrip for the exclusive use of property owners. The only services available on Blakely Island are at a general store and café, located at the marina and open seasonally. Seattle Pacific University runs a 967-acre (391.3 ha) biological field station on Blakely Island.

Geography

The island is hilly and heavily forested, with few maintained roads or paths. There are two freshwater lakes, Horseshoe Lake and Spencer Lake, at the center of the island. A freshwater creek, Spencer creek, flows from Spencer Lake into Thatcher Bay.

Climate

Climate data for Blakely Island, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 65
(18)
69
(21)
79
(26)
83
(28)
90
(32)
95
(35)
101
(38)
95
(35)
88
(31)
82
(28)
69
(21)
74
(23)
101
(38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 45.0
(7.2)
48.6
(9.2)
52.3
(11.3)
57.8
(14.3)
63.6
(17.6)
68.2
(20.1)
72.2
(22.3)
72.2
(22.3)
67.5
(19.7)
59.2
(15.1)
51.0
(10.6)
46.3
(7.9)
58.7
(14.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 39.8
(4.3)
42.2
(5.7)
45.2
(7.3)
49.7
(9.8)
54.7
(12.6)
58.9
(14.9)
62.0
(16.7)
62.1
(16.7)
58.4
(14.7)
51.9
(11.1)
45.2
(7.3)
41.2
(5.1)
50.9
(10.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34.5
(1.4)
36.0
(2.2)
38.1
(3.4)
41.6
(5.3)
45.7
(7.6)
49.6
(9.8)
51.7
(10.9)
51.8
(11.0)
49.4
(9.7)
44.6
(7.0)
39.5
(4.2)
36.0
(2.2)
43.2
(6.2)
Record low °F (°C) 6
(−14)
9
(−13)
18
(−8)
27
(−3)
31
(−1)
33
(1)
35
(2)
33
(1)
19
(−7)
23
(−5)
10
(−12)
4
(−16)
4
(−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.5
(89)
2.5
(64)
2.3
(58)
1.8
(46)
1.6
(41)
1.4
(36)
0.8
(20)
1.0
(25)
1.5
(38)
2.6
(66)
3.8
(97)
3.8
(97)
26.6
(680)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.1
(5.3)
1.1
(2.8)
0.5
(1.3)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.4
(1.0)
1.0
(2.5)
5.1
(13)
Average precipitation days 17 13 14 11 9 8 4 5 8 12 17 17 135
Source: Weatherbase

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Isla Blakely para niños

kids search engine
Blakely Island, Washington Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.