Hecate Depression

Hecate Depression
physiographic section
Approximate Center Approximate Center of Hecate Depression
Coordinates: 53°30′N131°00′W / 53.5°N 131.0°W / 53.5; -131.0
Location	British Columbia, Canada
Range	Pacific Coast Ranges
Part of	Coastal Trough

Hecate Depression is a major physiographic and geological depression on the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, Canada, it forms the northern portion of the larger Coastal Trough and lies between the mainland Coast Mountains and the outer mountain ranges including the Queen Charlotte Mountains of Haida Gwaii. ^[1]

Geography and Physiography

The Hecate Depression is characterized by predominantly low elevation topography and submerged troughs. Above sea level it includes lowland areas along the coast and islands, while much of the Hecate Depression lies beneath Queen Charlotte Strait, Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, and Dixon Entrance. ^[1]

Geology

The Depression consists of Palaeogene volcanics overlain by Upper Cretaceous sediments. Formation of the Hecate Depression occurred with the development of the Queen Charlotte Basin causing subsidence in the area, and an associated accumulation of sedimentary sequences ^[2] .

Relation to Coastal Trough

The Coastal Trough is divided by the Seymour Arch ^[1] :

• Southerly Georgia Depression with marine mesozoic sediments
• Northerly Hecate Depression with non-marine mesozoic sediments ^[2]

See also

• Coastal Trough
• Georgia Depression
• Hecate Strait
• Queen Charlotte Basin

References

1. Holland, S. S. (1964). Landforms of British Columbia: A Physiographic Outline (PDF) (revised 1976 ed.). British Columbia Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
2. Pike, Christopher James (1986). A seismic refraction study of the Hecate sub‑basin, British Columbia (MSc thesis). Vancouver, British Columbia: University of British Columbia. doi:10.14288/1.0052899 . Retrieved 29 December 2025.