PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND

island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Baffin and Kitikmeot regions, Nunavut territory. It is separated from Victoria Island (west) by M'Clintock Channel and from Somerset Island (east) by Peel Sound. Prince of Wales Island is about 190 miles (310 km) long, 40-130 miles (65-210 km) wide, and has an area of 12,872 square miles (33,339 square km). Its coastline is deeply indented by Ommanney Bay (west) and Browne Bay (east). The island was discovered in 1851 by sledge parties under the British explorer Francis (later Sir Francis) McClintock who were searching for Sir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition. island, largest of those in the Torres Strait connecting the Coral Sea with the Arafura Sea, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the tip of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. It has an area of about 70 square miles (180 square km). Rugged and wooded, the island rises to 761 feet (232 m). It has little arable land and no permanent sources of fresh water; there are no suitable landings for ships. Pearl shell was exported, but the decline in world demand for pearl shell since the 1950s has led many islanders to migrate to Queensland. Pop. (1971) 90.