Hartley Bay

The ancient winter village of the Gitga'at, known today as Lax Galts'ap or "Old Town," is located 12 miles (19 km) north on Douglas Channel.

Hartley Bay was established and settled in 1887 after a number of families left Metlakalta, B.C., where they had joined other Tsimshian people at the utopian mission begun by the lay minister William Duncan.

When Duncan and his Tsimshian supporters moved to New Metlakatla, Alaska, many of the Gitga'at returned to their traditional territories.

Today, however, with the decline of the fishing industry, employment has diversified, with tourism playing a significant role.

On March 22, 2006, the people of Hartley Bay helped rescue the passengers of the BC Ferries vessel Queen of the North, by arriving before the Canadian Coast Guard.

Precipitation mostly falls as rain, even during the winter months, although the area does experience snowfall averaging roughly 200 cm per year.