Deception Pass, Strait between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands in Washington, US.
Deception Pass is a narrow waterway in Washington connecting Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island. Steep rock walls frame the channel where Skagit Bay meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
George Vancouver renamed the waterway in 1792 after realizing the land formation was not a peninsula. Coast Salish peoples used these waters for fishing long before European ships reached the region.
The passage takes its name from an explorer who mistook the opening for solid coastline when sailing past. Local fishers still work these waters much as earlier generations did along the shores.
The strongest tidal movement happens during ebb and flood, when water rushes through the narrow channel. Boats should check tide conditions before attempting passage, as conditions shift quickly.
Ben Ure Island in the passage served as a smuggling point for Chinese migrants during the late 1800s. The small island sits right in the current and offered cover for secret nighttime landings.
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