Heleysundet ( en, Heley Sound) is a narrow sound between Kükenthaløya and Spitsbergen. It is known for its violent tidal races. Heleysundet was discovered (and named) by the 60-ton ship ''John Ellis'' in 1617, which had been sent out by the

Muscovy Company The Muscovy Company (also called the Russia Company or the Muscovy Trading Company russian: Московская компания, Moskovskaya kompaniya) was an English trading company chartered in 1555. It was the first major chartered joint s ...

to explore to the south-eastwards of Spitsbergen. The sound was named after the Englishman William Heley (born 1594/95), a supercargo and vice-admiral of the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

whaling Whaling is the process of hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that became increasingly important in the Industrial Revolution. It was practiced as an organized industr ...

fleet from 1617 to 1623.

References

*Conway, W. M. 1906. No Man's Land: A History of Spitsbergen from Its Discovery in 1596 to the Beginning of the Scientific Exploration of the Country. Cambridge: At the University Press. * Johansen, B. J. (ed.) 2009.
Søraust-Svalbard's geology and landscape
In: ''Cruise Handbook for Svalbard''. Norwegian Polar Institute. * Norwegian Polar Institut
Place Names of Svalbard Database
*Purchas, S. 1625. Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes: Contayning a History of the World in Sea Voyages and Lande Travells by Englishmen and others. Volumes XIII and XIV (Reprint 1906 J. Maclehose and sons). Fjords of Svalbard {{svalbard-geo-stub