Inlet on the coast of British Columbia, Canada
Portland Inlet [ 2] inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the north coast of British Columbia , Canada, approximately 55 km (34 mi) north of Prince Rupert . It joins Chatham Sound opposite the Dixon Entrance . The Nisga'a assert that the inlet constitutes part of their ancient territory.[ 3]
The inlet is 40 km (25 mi) long and as much as 13 km (8.1 mi) wide. It drains the Portland Canal , Nass Bay (outlet of the Nass River ), and Khutzeymateen Inlet , among others, and is the site of Pearse Island and Somerville Island. Other major sidewaters of the inlet are Observatory Inlet and its east arm, Alice Arm .
Portland Inlet was mapped by the Vancouver Expedition in 1793 and named Brown Inlet, with George Vancouver later changing the name to honour the British House of Portland .[ 4]
In winter , the inlet is subject to strong katabatic winds , with the most powerful outflow events measured in British Columbia.[ 5]
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