Melville Island

Melville Island, in the North Polar Sea, lat. 75° N., long. 110° W., was discovered and named by Parry, who wintered there in 1819-20. It is 200 miles long by 130 miles broad, and adjoins Prince Patrick Island, from which it is separated by Kellet Strait, Melville Sound intervening between it and Prince Albert's Land. Melville Peninsula is of about the same area, but lies farther S. and E., forming the extreme rear of the Gulf of Boothia. A large island of the same name also lies off the coast of north Australia, and was colonised by the British, who founded, but soon abandoned, the settlement of Port Dundas.