Washington Strait (60°43′S 44°56′W / 60.717°S 44.933°W / -60.717; -44.933Coordinates: 60°43′S 44°56′W / 60.717°S 44.933°W / -60.717; -44.933) is a passage 3 miles (4.8 km) wide between Fredriksen and Powell Islands on the west and Laurie Island and several smaller islands on the east, in the South Orkney Islands. Discovered in December 1821 on the occasion of the joint cruise by Captain George Powell, a British sealer in the sloop Dove, and Captain Nathaniel Palmer, an American sealer in the sloop James Monroe. Supposedly, it was named for George Washington, first President of the United States.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Washington Strait" (content from the Geographic Names Information System).
Famous quotes containing the words washington and/or strait:
“The city of Washington is in some respects self-contained, and it is easy there to forget what the rest of the United States is thinking about. I count it a fortunate circumstance that almost all the windows of the White House and its offices open upon unoccupied spaces that stretch to the banks of the Potomac ... and that as I sit there I can constantly forget Washington and remember the United States.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“We approached the Indian Island through the narrow strait called “Cook.” He said, “I ‘xpect we take in some water there, river so high,—never see it so high at this season. Very rough water there, but short; swamp steamboat once. Don’t paddle till I tell you, then you paddle right along.” It was a very short rapid. When we were in the midst of it he shouted “paddle,” and we shot through without taking in a drop.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)