The Colvos Passage is a

tidal strait A tidal strait is a strait through which a tidal current flows. Tidal currents are usually unidirectional but sometimes are bidirectional. Tidal straits, though they are narrow seaways, are technically not rivers. They are frequently of tectonic ...

within

Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ; ) is a complex estuary, estuarine system of interconnected Marine habitat, marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. As a part of the Salish Sea, the sound ...

in the American state of

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

running west of Vashon Island between the island and the

Kitsap Peninsula The Kitsap Peninsula () lies west of Seattle across Puget Sound, in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest. Hood Canal separates the peninsula from the Olympic Peninsula on its west side. The peninsula, a.k.a. "Kitsap", encompasses all of Kits ...

. It lies just north of the Dalco Passage. Colvos Passage has a permanent predominantly northbound current, in contrast to the rest of Puget Sound which varies with the tide. The communities of

Fragaria ''Fragaria'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. There are more than 20 described species and many Hybrid plant, hybrids and cultivars. The most common strawberr ...

, Olalla, Sunrise Beach, Spring Beach, Maplewood, Lisabeula, Paradise Cove and Sylvan Beach are located on Colvos Passage. Colvos Passage was named by

Charles Wilkes Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and List of explorers, explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842). During the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865 ...

during the

United States Exploring Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

, to honor George Colvocoresses, a midshipman for the expedition. Wilkes considered his name too long for geographic honors and so shortened it to Colvos on the official charts.

References

Straits of Washington (state) Straits of Kitsap County, Washington Bodies of water of King County, Washington Bodies of water of Pierce County, Washington Landforms of Puget Sound {{PierceCountyWA-geo-stub