Vancouver Island | island, British Columbia, Canada | Britannica.com Vancouver Island Courtenay Vancouver Island, island lying off of southwestern British Columbia , Canada . With an area of 12,079 square miles (31,285 square km), it is the largest island on the Pacific coast of North America . Vancouver Island is separated from mainland Canada by the straits of Georgia, Johnstone, and Queen Charlotte and from the United States by Juan de Fuca Strait . The island, averaging 50 miles (80 km) in width and extending for 285 miles (460 km) along a northwest–southeast axis paralleling the mainland, is actually the top of a partially submerged mountain system. It has a deeply dissected, heavily wooded, mountainous interior with several peaks of more than 7,000 feet (2,100 metres). Flanked on the east by a coastal plain, its coastline, especially on the west, is deeply indented with fjords.

Strathcona Provincial Park occupies 847 square miles (2,193 square km) in the central part of the island, while Pacific Rim National Park (193 square miles [500 square km]) is in three sections along the west coast, and Cape Scott Provincial Park (58 square miles [151 square km]) is at its northwestern tip. Shoreline of Kennedy Lake, south-central Vancouver Island, B.C., Can. © Index Open First discovered by Captain James Cook (1778), the island was surveyed in 1792 by George Vancouver and was held by the Hudson’s Bay Company until it was made a British crown colony in 1849. In 1866 it was united with the mainland colony of British Columbia, which entered (in 1871) the Dominion of Canada as a province, with Victoria , the island’s chief city, as the provincial capital. The island’s main industries include lumbering, fishing , mining (coal, iron ore, and copper), agriculture (dairy products, fruits, and vegetables), and tourism.

The major population centres, situated predominantly along the east coast, apart from Victoria, are Duncan, Nanaimo , Port Alberni, Courtenay , North Cowichan, Port Hardy, and Campbell River . The island is served by air and ferry service to mainland Canada and the United States. Logging boat in Ucluelet Inlet, western Vancouver Island, B.C., Can. © Index Open Vancouver Island Encyclopedia > Places > United States, Canada, and Greenland > Canadian Physical Geography Vancouver Island Vancouver Island (1991 pop. 579,921), 12,408 sq mi (32,137 sq km), SW British Columbia, Canada, in the Pacific Ocean; largest island off W North America. It is c.285 mi (460 km) long and c.30 to 80 mi (50–130 km) wide and is separated from the mainland by Queen Charlotte, Georgia, and Juan de Fuca straits. The rugged island, a partially submerged portion of the Coast Mts., rises to 7,219 ft (2,200 m) at Golden Hinde Mt.

Level plains extend inland from the eastern coastline. The Pacific coastline is deeply indented by numerous fjords and inlets. The island has a mild humid climate; W Vancouver Island receives the greatest amount of precipitation in North America. There are many lakes and streams but no navigable rivers. The island is heavily forested, and lumbering and wood processing are major industries. Vancouver Island is underlaid by a mineral-rich batholith, from which iron, copper, and gold are mined. Coal is extracted from a depression at the edge of the batholith; the mines at Nanaimo provide most of the coal for British Columbia. Fishing, agriculture, and tourism are other important economic activities. Pacific Rim National Park, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park, and Strathcona Provincial Park are there. Population is concentrated along the east coast; Victoria (the provincial capital), Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and Esquimalt (site of a large naval base) are the largest cities. There are many small ports and fishing settlements. Both Spain and Britain claimed the island; it was sighted (1774) by Juan Pérez, the Spanish explorer, and Capt.

James Cook was the first (1778) to land there. In 1788, John Meares, an English trader, built a fort on Nootka Sound , which was later occupied by Spanish forces. In 1792 the island was circumnavigated and chartered by Capt. George Vancouver. British sovereignty over Vancouver was confirmed (1846) when the U.S.-Canada line was drawn through Juan de Fuca Strait by the Oregon Treaty. Vancouver Island was made a crown colony in 1849 and in 1866 became part of British Columbia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. Vancouver's Island | Article about Vancouver's Island by The Free Dictionary Vancouver's Island | Article about Vancouver's Island by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . Vancouver Island (1991 pop. 579,921), 12,408 sq mi (32,137 sq km), SW British Columbia, Canada, in the Pacific Ocean; largest island off W North America.

It is c.285 mi (460 km) long and c.30 to 80 mi (50–130 km) wide and is separated from the mainland by Queen Charlotte, Georgia, and Juan de Fuca straits. The rugged island, a partially submerged portion of the Coast Mts., rises to 7,219 ft (2,200 m) at Golden Hinde Mt. Level plains extend inland from the eastern coastline. The Pacific coastline is deeply indented by numerous fjords and inlets. The island has a mild humid climate; W Vancouver Island receives the greatest amount of precipitation in North America. There are many lakes and streams but no navigable rivers. The island is heavily forested, and lumbering and wood processing are major industries. Vancouver Island is underlaid by a mineral-rich batholith, from which iron, copper, and gold are mined. Coal is extracted from a depression at the edge of the batholith; the mines at Nanaimo provide most of the coal for British Columbia. Fishing, agriculture, and tourism are other important economic activities. Pacific Rim National Park, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park, and Strathcona Provincial Park are there.

Population is concentrated along the east coast; Victoria Victoria, city (1991 pop. 71,228), capital of British Columbia, SW Canada, on Vancouver Island and Juan de Fuca Strait. It is the largest city on the island and its major port and business center. ..... Click the link for more information. (the provincial capital), Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and Esquimalt (site of a large naval base) are the largest cities. There are many small ports and fishing settlements. Both Spain and Britain claimed the island; it was sighted (1774) by Juan Pérez, the Spanish explorer, and Capt. James Cook was the first (1778) to land there. In 1788, John Meares, an English trader, built a fort on Nootka Sound Nootka Sound, inlet of the Pacific Ocean and natural harbor on the west coast of Vancouver Island, SW British Columbia, Canada, lying between the mainland and Nootka Island (206 sq mi/534 sq km). ..... Click the link for more information. , which was later occupied by Spanish forces.

In 1792 the island was circumnavigated and chartered by Capt. George Vancouver. British sovereignty over Vancouver was confirmed (1846) when the U.S.-Canada line was drawn through Juan de Fuca Strait by the Oregon Treaty. Vancouver Island was made a crown colony in 1849 and in 1866 became part of British Columbia. British Columbia - Vancouver Island British Columbia - Vancouver Island Vancouver Island (52KB JPEG Image) Vancouver Island, Canada, is 285 miles (456 km) long and 40-80 miles (64-128 km) wide, with an area of 12,408 square miles (32,137 sq. km.). The island is separated from the Canadian mainland by Queen Charlotte, Johnstone, and Georgia straits, and from the state of Washington, United States to the east and south by Georgia, Haro, and Juan de Fuca straits. This image, a mosaic, covers the entire island but does not show any of the mainland of British Columbia which is situated within a short distance of the island.

The area at the bottom portion of the image, separated from the island, is a section of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. The island's coastline is broken by numerous inlets. Flanked on the east by a coastal plain, its coastline, especially on the west, is deeply indented with fjords. Starting in the north on the west side, Quatsino, Nootka, and Barkley sounds reach into the heart of the island. The valleys of the southeastern interior and parts of the southern coastal lowlands provide excellent farmland. Victoria, the largest city of the island and the capital of British Columbia, is situated at the southern tip of the island. The island has a deeply dissected, heavily wooded, mountainous interior. The mountains (part of the Coast Range) average 2,000 - 3,000 feet (600-900 meters) in elevation with several peaks exceeding 7,000 feet (2,150 meters). The slopes of these mountains are covered with fir, cedar, and hemlock forests. Lumbering is the chief industry. One can easily detect on the image considerable detail about the mountainous landscape.

The climate of the island is generally mild with respect to temperature and receives the heaviest rainfall in North America (over 300 inches) per year in places on the western coast. With such high rainfall comes heavy cloud cover making it difficult to view the island using optical sensors. In addition, the heavy forest cover creates problems by forming a blanket across the landscape. Radar can penetrate both the cloud and forest cover to provide a detailed image of the topography. Sixteen ERS-1 SAR scenes were mosaiced to create this image. These scenes were acquired between February 28 and April 23, 1993. Copyright: European Space Agency Victoria and Environs (39KB JPEG Image) The second image, a three-frequency space radar image, shows the southern end of Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. The white area in the lower right is the city of Victoria. The three radar frequencies help to distinguish different land use patterns. The bright pink areas are suburban regions, the brownish areas are forested regions, and the blue areas are agricultural fields or forest clear-cuts. Founded in 1843 as a fur trading post, Victoria has grown to become one of western Canada's largest commercial centers.

In the upper right is San Juan Island, in the state of Washington. The Canada/U.S. border runs through Haro Strait, on the right side of the image, between San Juan Island and Vancouver Island. The image was acquired by the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) on October 6, 1994, onboard the space shuttle Endeavour. The area shown is 37 kilometers by 42 kilometers (23 miles by 26 miles) and is centered at 48.5 degrees north latitude, 123.3 degrees west longitude. North is toward the upper left. The colors are assigned to different radar frequencies and polarizations as follows: red is L-band horizontally transmitted and received; green is C-band, vertically transmitted and received; and blue is X-band, vertically transmitted and received. SIR-C/X-SAR, a joint mission of the German, Italian and United States space agencies, is part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program. This description was prepared by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Vancouver | Define Vancouver at Dictionary.com Vancouver George, 1758–98, English explorer. 2.

a large island in SW Canada, off the SW coast of British Columbia. 12,408 sq. mi. (32,135 sq. km). 3. a seaport in SW British Columbia, on the Strait of Georgia opposite SE Vancouver island. 4. a city in SW Washington. 5. Mount, a mountain on the boundary between Alaska and Canada, in the St. Elias Mountains. 15,700 feet (4785 meters). Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Vancouver Expand Contemporary Examples The foot found on False Creek was near a part of Vancouver known as Leg in Boot Square. British Dictionary definitions for Vancouver Expand noun 1. Vancouver Island, an island of SW Canada, off the SW coast of British Columbia: separated from the Canadian mainland by the Strait of Georgia and Queen Charlotte Sound, and from the US mainland by Juan de Fuca Strait; the largest island off the W coast of North America. Chief town: Victoria. Pop: 706 243 (2001). Area: 32 137 sq km (12 408 sq miles) 2.

a city in SW Canada, in SW British Columbia: Canada's chief Pacific port, named after Captain George Vancouver: university (1908). Pop: 545 671 (2001) 3. Mount Vancouver, a mountain on the border between Canada and Alaska, in the St Elias Mountains. Height: 4785 m (15 700 ft) Vancouver2 Vancouver Is. | Article about Vancouver Is. by The Free Dictionary Vancouver Is. | Article about Vancouver Is. by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . Vancouver Island (1991 pop. 579,921), 12,408 sq mi (32,137 sq km), SW British Columbia, Canada, in the Pacific Ocean; largest island off W North America. It is c.285 mi (460 km) long and c.30 to 80 mi (50–130 km) wide and is separated from the mainland by Queen Charlotte, Georgia, and Juan de Fuca straits.

The rugged island, a partially submerged portion of the Coast Mts., rises to 7,219 ft (2,200 m) at Golden Hinde Mt. Level plains extend inland from the eastern coastline. The Pacific coastline is deeply indented by numerous fjords and inlets. The island has a mild humid climate; W Vancouver Island receives the greatest amount of precipitation in North America. There are many lakes and streams but no navigable rivers. The island is heavily forested, and lumbering and wood processing are major industries. Vancouver Island is underlaid by a mineral-rich batholith, from which iron, copper, and gold are mined. Coal is extracted from a depression at the edge of the batholith; the mines at Nanaimo provide most of the coal for British Columbia. Fishing, agriculture, and tourism are other important economic activities. Pacific Rim National Park, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park, and Strathcona Provincial Park are there. Population is concentrated along the east coast; Victoria Victoria, city (1991 pop. 71,228), capital of British Columbia, SW Canada, on Vancouver Island and Juan de Fuca Strait.

It is the largest city on the island and its major port and business center. ..... Click the link for more information. (the provincial capital), Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and Esquimalt (site of a large naval base) are the largest cities. There are many small ports and fishing settlements. Both Spain and Britain claimed the island; it was sighted (1774) by Juan Pérez, the Spanish explorer, and Capt. James Cook was the first (1778) to land there. In 1788, John Meares, an English trader, built a fort on Nootka Sound Nootka Sound, inlet of the Pacific Ocean and natural harbor on the west coast of Vancouver Island, SW British Columbia, Canada, lying between the mainland and Nootka Island (206 sq mi/534 sq km). ..... Click the link for more information. , which was later occupied by Spanish forces. In 1792 the island was circumnavigated and chartered by Capt. George Vancouver. British sovereignty over Vancouver was confirmed (1846) when the U.S.-Canada line was drawn through Juan de Fuca Strait by the Oregon Treaty.

Vancouver Island was made a crown colony in 1849 and in 1866 became part of British Columbia. Vancouver Island facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Vancouver Island The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright The Columbia University Press Vancouver Island (1991 pop. 579,921), 12,408 sq mi (32,137 sq km), SW British Columbia, Canada, in the Pacific Ocean; largest island off W North America. It is c.285 mi (460 km) long and c.30 to 80 mi (50–130 km) wide and is separated from the mainland by Queen Charlotte, Georgia, and Juan de Fuca straits. The rugged island, a partially submerged portion of the Coast Mts., rises to 7,219 ft (2,200 m) at Golden Hinde Mt. Level plains extend inland from the eastern coastline. The Pacific coastline is deeply indented by numerous fjords and inlets. The island has a mild humid climate; W Vancouver Island receives the greatest amount of precipitation in North America.

There are many lakes and streams but no navigable rivers. The island is heavily forested, and lumbering and wood processing are major industries. Vancouver Island is underlaid by a mineral-rich batholith, from which iron, copper, and gold are mined. Coal is extracted from a depression at the edge of the batholith; the mines at Nanaimo provide most of the coal for British Columbia. Fishing, agriculture, and tourism are other important economic activities. Pacific Rim National Park, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park, and Strathcona Provincial Park are there. Population is concentrated along the east coast; Victoria (the provincial capital), Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and Esquimalt (site of a large naval base) are the largest cities. There are many small ports and fishing settlements. Both Spain and Britain claimed the island; it was sighted (1774) by Juan Pérez, the Spanish explorer, and Capt. James Cook was the first (1778) to land there. In 1788, John Meares, an English trader, built a fort on Nootka Sound , which was later occupied by Spanish forces.

In 1792 the island was circumnavigated and chartered by Capt. George Vancouver. British sovereignty over Vancouver was confirmed (1846) when the U.S.-Canada line was drawn through Juan de Fuca Strait by the Oregon Treaty. Vancouver Island was made a crown colony in 1849 and in 1866 became part of British Columbia. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA Vancouver Island - iSnare Free Encyclopedia Vancouver Island "Quadra and Vancouver Island" redirects here. For the nearby island named solely after the Spanish explorer, see Quadra Island . Vancouver Island Pacific Ocean , on Canada's southern west coast. Coordinates Saanich (city proper) , Victoria (metropolitan area) (pop. 108,265 in Saanich; 344,615 in Greater Victoria [3] ) Demographics Pop. density 23.94 /km2 (62 /sq mi) Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington by the Juan De Fuca Strait.

Vancouver Island is in the northeastern Pacific Ocean , just off the coast of Canada . It is part of the Canadian province of British Columbia . The island is 460 kilometres (290 mi) in length, 100 kilometres (62 mi) in width at its widest point, [5] and 32,134 km2 (12,407 sq mi) in area. It is the largest island on the West Coast of North America. The southern part of Vancouver Island is the only part of British Columbia or Western Canada to lie south of the 49th Parallel , along with most of the southern Gulf Islands and minor offshore islands. This area has one of the warmest climates in Canada, and since the mid-1990s has been mild enough in a few areas to grow subtropical Mediterranean crops such as olives and lemons . [6] Vancouver Island has a population of 759,366 according to the Canada 2011 Census . [7] Nearly half of that figure (344,630) live in the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria .

Other notable cities and towns on Vancouver Island include Nanaimo , Port Alberni , Parksville , Courtenay , and Campbell River . Victoria , the capital city of British Columbia, is located on the island, but the larger city of Vancouver is not – it is on the North American mainland, across the Strait of Georgia from Nanaimo. Vancouver Island has been the homeland to many indigenous peoples for thousands of years. [8] The island was explored by British and Spanish expeditions in the late 18th century. It was named Quadra's and Vancouver's Island in commemoration of the friendly negotiations held in 1792 by Spanish commander of the Nootka Sound settlement , Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra , and by British naval captain George Vancouver , during the Nootka Crisis . Quadra's name was eventually dropped from the name. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, who explored the Pacific Northwest coast between 1791 and 1794. Main article: Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast Vancouver Island has been the homeland to many indigenous peoples for thousands of years.

[8] The groupings, by language, are the Kwakwaka'wakw , Nuu-chah-nulth , and various Coast Salish peoples . Kwakwaka'wakw territory includes northern and northwestern Vancouver Island and adjoining areas of the mainland, the Nuu-chah-nulth span most of the west coast, while the Coast Salish cover the southeastern Island and southernmost extremities along the Strait of Juan de Fuca . Their cultures are connected to the natural resources abundant in the area. Kwakwaka'wakw Main article: Kwakwaka'wakw The Kwakwaka'wakw today number about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the mainland. They are also known as Kwakiutl in English, from one of their tribes, but they prefer their autonym Kwakwaka'wakw. Their indigenous language, part of the Wakashan family, is Kwak'wala . The name Kwakwaka'wakw means "speakers of Kwak'wala".

The language is now spoken by less than 5% of the population—about 250 people. Today 17 separate tribes make up the Kwakwaka'wakw. Some Kwakwaka'wakw groups are now extinct. Kwak'wala is a Northern Wakashan language , a grouping shared with Haisla, Heiltsuk and Wuikyala. Kwakwaka'wakw centres of population on Vancouver Island include communities such as Fort Rupert , Alert Bay and Quatsino , The Kwakwaka'wakw tradition of the potlatch was banned by the federal government of Canada in 1885, but has been revived in recent decades. Nuu-chah-nulth Main article: Nuu-chah-nulth people The Nuu-chah-nulth (pronounced [nuːʧanˀuɬ], or approximately "new-cha-nulth") are indigenous peoples in Canada. Their traditional home is on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

In pre-contact and early post-contact times, the number of nations was much greater, but as in the rest of the region, smallpox and other consequences of contact resulted in the disappearance of some groups, and the absorption of others into neighbouring groups. They were among the first Pacific peoples north of California to come into contact with Europeans, as the Spanish, Americans and British attempted to secure control of Pacific Northwest and the trade in otter pelts, with Nootka Sound becoming a focus of these rivalries. The Nuu-chah-nulth speak a Southern Wakashan language and are closely related to the Makah of the Olympic Peninsula , Washington State and Ditidaht. Coast Salish Main article: Coast Salish peoples The Coast Salish are the largest of the southern groups. They are a loose grouping of many tribes with numerous distinct cultures and languages. On Vancouver Island, Coast Salish peoples territory traditionally spans from the northern limit of the Gulf of Georgia on the inside of Vancouver Island and covering most of southern Vancouver Island.

Distinct nations within the Coast Salish peoples on Vancouver Island include the Chemainus , the Comox of the Comox Valley area, the Cowichan of the Cowichan Valley , the Esquimalt , the Saanich of the Saanich Peninsula , the Songhees of the Victoria area and Snuneymuxw in the Nanaimo area. European exploration Europeans began to explore the island in 1774, when rumours of Russian fur traders caused Spain to send a number of expeditions to assert its long-held claims to the Pacific Northwest . The first expedition was that of the Santiago, under the command of Juan José Pérez Hernández . In 1775, a second Spanish expedition under the Spanish Peruvian captain Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra was sent. By 1776 Spanish exploration had reached Bucareli Bay including the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington , and Sitka Sound . Vancouver Island came to the attention of Britain after the third voyage of Captain James Cook , who spent a month during 1778 at Nootka Sound , on the island's western coast. Cook claimed it for Great Britain .

The island's rich fur trading potential led the fur-trader John Meares to set up a single-building trading post near the native village of Yuquot (Friendly Cove), at the entrance to Nootka Sound. The building was removed by the end of 1788. The island was further explored by Spain in 1789 with Esteban José Martínez , who established the settlement of Yuquot and the artillery battery of Fort San Miguel at Friendly Cove, which Spain called Puerto de San Lorenzo de Nuca. This was to be the only Spanish settlement in what would later be Canada. Asserting their claim of exclusive sovereignty and navigation rights, the Spanish force seized the Portuguese-flagged British ships. The two nations came close to war in the ensuing Nootka Crisis , but the issues were resolved peacefully with the first Nootka Convention in 1790, in which both countries recognized the other's rights to the area. The terms of the convention called for Spain to turn over to Britain the buildings and land that had been seized in 1789. For this purpose the British Naval Captain George Vancouver was sent to Nootka Sound in 1792.

His Spanish counterpart in the negotiations was Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, who was commandant of Santa Cruz de Nuca in 1792. Vancouver had sailed as a midshipman with Cook. The negotiations between Vancouver and Bodega y Quadra ended in a deadlock with nothing resolved. Vancouver insisted the entire Spanish establishment be turned over, but Bodega y Quadra held that there were no buildings seized in 1789 and the only possible land was a tiny and useless cove nearby. The two decided to refer the entire matter back to their respective governments. The friendly meeting between Bodega y Quadra and Vancouver led the former to propose that the island be named after both: "Quadra and Vancouver Island", which became the original name. While we know this island today as "Vancouver Island", the English explorer had not intentionally meant to name such a large body of land solely after himself.

[9] In his September 1792 dispatch log report for the British Admiralty, Captain Vancouver reveals that his decision here was rather meant to honour a request by Bodega y Quadra that Vancouver: "would name some port or island after us both in commemoration of our meeting and friendly intercourse that on that occasion had taken place (Vancouver had previously feted Bodega y Quadra on his ship);....and conceiving no place more eligible than the place of our meeting, I have therefore named this land...The Island of Quadra and Vancouver." [10] Bodega y Quadra wrote, however, that it was Vancouver who made the suggestion of combining their names to designate some geographical feature. [11] Dionisio Alcalá Galiano was the first European to circumnavigate Vancouver Island In 1792, the Spanish explorer Dionisio Alcalá Galiano and his crew were the first Europeans to circumnavigate Vancouver Island. On April 8, 1806, Captain John D'Wolf of Bristol, Rhode Island sailed the Juno to Newettee, a small inlet in the northwestern promontory of Vancouver's Island.

The Captain described Newette as one of the southernmost harbors frequented by American fur traders at lat. 51 degrees N. and long. 128 degrees. He relates that since Captain Robert Gray of Tiverton, Rhode Island sailed the Columbia River in 1792, the trade of the Northwest coast had been almost entirely in the hands of Boston merchants, so much so that the natives called all traders "Boston Men." [12] The newly discovered "Quadra's and Vancouver's Island" was the most prominent name on maps of the coast, and appeared on most [contemporary] British, French and Spanish maps of the period. But as Spanish interests in the region dwindled, so did Quadra's name. The Hudson's Bay Company played a major part in the transition; by 1824 'Vancouver's Island' had become the usual designation in its correspondence for the island. [13] A quarter of a century later, Vancouver Island had become such a well-known geographical feature, that the founding of the Colony of Vancouver Island in 1849 gave this name full official status.

[14] Period references to "Vancouver" referred to Vancouver Island until the naming of the city of Vancouver in 1885. British settlement The Great Seal of the Island of Vancouver and its Dependencies was designed by Benjamin Wyon , Chief Engraver of Her Majesty's Seals, c1849. The symbolic badge he designed are the basis for the flag of Vancouver Island, which is still unofficially flown today. [15] The flag of Vancouver Island was authorized in 1865 (colonies could place their badges upon the fly of a blue ensign). This flag uses the Colonial Seal of Vancouver Island from 1849. The flag was probably never actually flown in colonial times, and is now used as an unofficial representative flag. [16] Shortly thereafter, in 1846, the Oregon Treaty was signed by the British and the U.S. to settle the question of the U.S. Oregon Territory borders. It awarded all of Vancouver Island to Britain, despite a portion of the island lying south of the 49th parallel. In 1849, the Colony of Vancouver Island was established.

Following the brief governorship of Richard Blanshard , James Douglas , Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay post, assumed the role in 1851. The first British settlement on the island was a Hudson's Bay Company post, Fort Camosack, founded in 1843, and later renamed Fort Victoria . [17] Fort Victoria became an important base during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush in 1858, and the burgeoning town was incorporated as Victoria in 1862. Victoria became the capital of the colony of Vancouver Island, then retained that status when the island was amalgamated with the mainland in 1866. A British naval base, including a large shipyard and a naval hospital, was established at Esquimalt , in 1865 and eventually taken over by the Canadian military. The economic situation of the colony declined following the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1861–1862, and pressure grew for amalgamation of the colony with the mainland colony of British Columbia (which had been established in 1858). The colony's third and last governor, Sir Arthur Kennedy , oversaw the union of the two colonies in 1866.

Geography ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) Vancouver Island is located in the southwestern corner of the province of British Columbia. It is separated from the mainland of British Columbia by Johnstone Strait and Queen Charlotte Strait on the north and northeast, and by the Strait of Georgia on the southeast, which along with the Strait of Juan de Fuca along its southwest separate it from the United States (the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca are now officially also part of the Salish Sea , which includes Puget Sound as well). West of the island is the open Pacific Ocean, while to its north is Queen Charlotte Sound . The Vancouver Island Ranges run most of the length of the island, dividing it into a wet and rugged west coast and a drier, more rolling east coast. The highest point in these ranges and on the island is the Golden Hinde , at 2,195 metres (7,201 ft). Located near the centre of Vancouver Island in 2,500 square kilometres (965 sq mi) Strathcona Provincial Park , it is part of a group of peaks that include the only glaciers on the island, the largest of which is the Comox Glacier .

The west coast shoreline is rugged and in many places mountainous, characterized by its many fjords , bays, and inlets. The interior of the island has many lakes ( Kennedy Lake , north of Ucluelet , is the largest) and rivers. Rivers Main article: List of rivers of British Columbia § Rivers of Vancouver Island There are a number of rivers draining the island, some of which though short are large in volume. Among the more notable rivers are the Somass River in the Alberni Valley the Nimpkish River in the North Island region, the Englishman River near Nanaimo, and the Cowichan River whose basin forms the Cowichan Valley region in the South Island region. Major centres Vancouver Island's major population centre and only metropolitan area is the Capital Region , based around Victoria. There are also six census agglomeration areas with under 100,000 population as defined by Statistics Canada .

These metropolitan and agglomeration areas' populations in 2011 were as follows: Rank Climate Köppen climate types in Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands The climate is the mildest in Canada, with temperatures on the coast even in January being usually above 0 °C (32 °F). In summer, the warmest days usually achieve a maximum of 28–33 °C (82.4–91.4 °F). However, the rain shadow effect of the island's mountains, as well as the mountains of Washington 's Olympic Peninsula , creates wide variation in precipitation. The west coast is considerably wetter than the east coast. Average annual precipitation ranges from 6,650 millimetres (261.8 in) at Henderson Lake on the west coast (making it the wettest place in North America) to only 640 millimetres (25.2 in) at the driest recording station in the provincial capital of Victoria on the southeast coast's Saanich Peninsula. Precipitation is heaviest in the autumn and winter. Snow is rare at low altitudes but is common on the island's mountaintops in winter.

A notable feature of Vancouver Island is the extension of summer dryness to latitudes as high as 50°N. Only in the extreme north of the island near Port Hardy is the rainfall of the driest summer month as much as one fifth that of the wettest months from November to March. West coasts of other continents at similar latitudes have a practically even distribution of rainfall through the year. Geology The centre of Vancouver Island contains high mountains, such as Mount Rosseau . Vancouver Island is mostly made up of volcanic and sedimentary rock which was formed offshore on the now disappeared Kula oceanic plate . Around 55 million years ago, a microplate of the Kula Plate subducted below the North American continental margin with great strain. A volcanic arc on the surface of the Kula Plate was thus accreted and fused onto the western edge of North America. These terranes were subjected to extreme warping from continued subduction of the Kula plate, leading to the formation of the distorted Insular Mountains . Much of the central mountainous region around Strathcona Park is part of the Karmutsen Formation , which is a sequence of tholeiitic pillow basalts and breccias .

Since Vancouver Island has become an accretionary wedge on the North American continent, the Kula Plate has fully subducted beneath it and the remnants of the Farallon Plate , the Juan de Fuca Plate , are now subducting below the island. This process has led to Vancouver Island being one of the most seismically active regions in Canada. The subduction zone off the coast of the island forms a section of the Pacific Ring of Fire . The area has been known to host megathrust earthquakes in the past, the last occurring in 1700 . In 1946 , the Forbidden Plateau in the east of the Vancouver Island Ranges was the epicentre of an earthquake that registered 7.3 on the Richter magnitude scale , the strongest ever recorded on land in Canada. [19] Vancouver Island was the location of the observation of the episodic tremor and slip seismic phenomenon. Ecology The western side of Vancouver Island hosts a rainforest. Vancouver Island lies in the temperate rainforest biome .

On the southern and eastern portions of the island, this is characterized by Douglas-fir , western red cedar , arbutus (or madrone) , Garry oak , salal , Oregon-grape , and manzanita ; moreover, Vancouver Island is the location where the Douglas-fir was first recorded by Archibald Menzies ; [20] Vancouver Island is also the location where some of the tallest Douglas fir were recorded. This southeastern portion of the island is the most heavily populated region of Vancouver Island and a major area for recreation. The northern, western, and most of the central portions of the island are home to the coniferous "big trees" associated with British Columbia's coast — western hemlock , western red cedar , pacific silver fir , yellow cedar , Douglas-fir , grand fir , Sitka spruce , and western white pine . It is also characterised by bigleaf maple , red alder , sword fern , and red huckleberry . The fauna of Vancouver Island is similar to that found on the mainland coast, with some notable exceptions and additions.

For example, grizzly bears , mountain goats , moose , skunks , coyotes , and numerous species of small mammals, while plentiful on the mainland, are absent from Vancouver Island. The island does support most of Canada's Roosevelt elk , however, and two species — the Vancouver Island marmot and the Vancouver Island wolf — are unique to the island. The island's rivers, lakes, and coastal regions are renowned for their fisheries of trout , salmon , and Steelhead . It has the most concentrated population of cougars in North America. There are also black bears . After near-total extirpation by fur traders in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) were protected by international treaty in 1911. Despite protection, the remnant population off Vancouver Island died out with the last sea otter taken near Kyuquot in 1929. From 1969 to 1972, 89 sea otters were flown or shipped from Alaska to the west coast of Vancouver Island.

This population expanded to over 3,000 as of 2005 [update] , and their range on the island's west coast expanded from Cape Scott in the north to Barkley Sound to the south. [21] Economy Logging train on Vancouver Island, about 1925 Technology Within the island's largest city, Victoria, there is a significant IT and technology industry. According to the Victoria Advanced Technology Council website, over 800 technology companies operate in the Victoria area, with combined annual revenues of $1.95 billion. [22] High Speed Internet is delivered to the island by Shaw Communications , Telus , and various local providers with their own networks. Wireless Internet connections can be found all over the Island, many free for public use. While the Island does generate much of its own power at several hydroelectric stations, increased demand required the construction of several high voltage power cables, both HVDC and AC, connecting to the Canadian Mainland. See Powerlines connecting Vancouver Island with Canadian Mainland . Logging Outside of Victoria, Vancouver Island's economy is largely dominated by the forestry industry. Many of the logging operations are for export, although, historically, were for sawn lumber and pulp and paper operations.

Recently, rotations are much shorter than the historical 80 years. Logging operations involving old-growth forests such as those found in Clayoquot Sound are controversial and have gained international attention through the efforts of activists and environmental organizations . Another source of controversy all over the Island are logging operations occurring in community watersheds. This is happening for two primary reasons: old-growth forests are nearly all cut, and communities have little recourse to protect their watersheds because the province of BC has no legislation giving communities the right to protect their watersheds.[ citation needed ] Fishing Fishing plays a large role in the lives of many islanders. Commercial fishing vessels operate out of the island's ports and harbours, and coastal fish farms produce many tons of Pacific salmon yearly. [23] [24] [25] Tourism In recent years the government of British Columbia has engaged in an advertising program to draw more tourists to beach resorts in places such as Tofino and Ucluelet. Sport fishing, whale-watching , hiking, SCUBA diving , surfing, and skiing are just a few things for which tourists visit Vancouver Island.

Visitors also come to see Victoria's nineteenth-century architecture, and the many villages which line the coast such Cowichan Bay , Chemainus , and Qualicum Beach. French Beach, near Victoria Food products Consumer food products companies also exists in the various cities and towns on Vancouver Island. Bakeries, dairies, food processing plants, breweries, wineries, of varying size and scope are found all along the island. Some of these organizations have international customer reach. Education Vancouver Island is home to a handful of universities, several trade-schools and colleges, hundreds of public schools, and a few dozen private schools (including Montessori and Waldorf schools). Universities John Paul 2, Port Alberni Transport Sea Marine transport is very important to Vancouver Island for access to the mainland of British Columbia and Washington. There are no bridges connecting the island to the mainland, although the idea of building one has been brought up many times. Major technical issues and cost are the largest barriers to a bridge currently though exact public support for the idea is not currently known. [26] The only vehicle access to Vancouver Island is by ferry. BC Ferries , Washington State Ferries and Black Ball Transport Inc. operate the seven vehicle ferry routes to the island.

A BC Ferries vessel. BC Ferries Tsawwassen (38 km (24 mi) south of Vancouver) - Swartz Bay (32 km (20 mi) north of Victoria) Crossing time: 1 hour 35 minutes; 8 sailings per day in the fall, winter, and spring and more in summer) Tsawwassen - Duke Point (13 km (8 mi) south of Nanaimo) Crossing time: 2 hours; 8 round trips daily. Horseshoe Bay (19 km (12 mi) northwest of Vancouver) - Departure Bay (3 km (2 mi) north of downtown Nanaimo) Crossing time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Sailings every 2 hours with extra sailings during the summer and holidays. Gulf Islands - Swartz Bay Victoria Clipper (Seattle, Washington - Victoria) Crossing time: 2 hour 45 minutes; 1 to 3 round trips daily In the past, several private operators have run ferries between Nanaimo and Vancouver (most recently by HarbourLynx ).

Despite the operations repeatedly going bankrupt, there is still popular interest and ongoing discussion regarding re-establishing service between Nanaimo and Vancouver, but no signs that operations are imminent. [27] [28] [29] [30] Rail The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), a federally registered charity, was established in 2006 for the purposes of owning and managing the former Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway (E&N) Corridor on Vancouver Island. The ICF has established a contract with Southern Rail of Vancouver Island (SVI) to move all rail freight on the Island and to and from the mainland. SVI is a private commercial rail company and subsidiary of Southern Rail of British Columbia, a short line rail operator that is part of the Washington Transportation Group. SVI assumed operating control from RailAmerica in July 2006 and offers general freight service only on the north Nanaimo to South Duncan segment of the Victoria–Courtenay main line (called the Victoria Subdivision by the railroad). The Port Alberni branch line (called the Port Alberni Subdivision by the railroad) has been out of service since late 2001.

Passenger service, which had been operated by Via Rail under contract, was halted in 2011 after it was identified that a portion of the line failed to meet operating requirements for passenger service. [31] Since then, there have been ongoing efforts to secure funding from various levels of government to complete the necessary repairs, but the decision remains open. Western Forest Products operates the Englewood Railway which is Canada's last logging railway, running from Woss to Beaver Cove on the northern end of the island. The former Canadian National Railway line running from Victoria to the Cowichan Valley was abandoned in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and the former grade between Victoria and Sooke is now the multi-use Galloping Goose Regional Trail . The BC Forest Discovery Centre has a narrow gauge railway winding around the park, and the Alberni Pacific Railway operates a tour train during the summer from the restored E&N Railway station in Port Alberni to the McLean's Mill on former E&N Railway trackage that is now owned by the ICF. Road There is one major north-south highway system on the island, which runs along the eastern side.

It begins in Victoria as Highway 1 which is part of the Trans-Canada highway system as far as Nanaimo. There, Highway 19 takes over and continues to Port Hardy. The route is a patchwork of two-, four-, and six-lane roadways between Victoria and Port Hardy. The engineering characteristics and traffic control systems of the roadway vary widely from one city or district to the next and include the following variations: Trans-Canada Highway: Congested, heavily signalized four-lane urban core streets with heavy pedestrian activity in Victoria and Duncan. Short four- to six-lane freeways with interchanges just west of Victoria and just south of Nanaimo. A paved but treacherous two-lane to three-lane winding mountain arterial road through the Malahat pass that is subject to frequent accidents and closures. A moderate to heavily signalized four-lane divided arterial road from Mill Bay to Nanaimo (interrupted by the Duncan urban-core bottleneck ). Highway 19: A moderate to heavily signalized bypass called the Nanaimo Parkway. A lightly signalized four-lane divided arterial road from the Parkway to Parksville. A stretch of four-lane high-speed freeway from Parksville to Campbell River.

A moderate-speed two-lane arterial highway north from Campbell River to Port Hardy. [32] Without a "fixed link" to the BC mainland, there is little probability of substantial improvements in the mobility characteristics of some of the more congested or heavily signalized sections of the Island Trans-Canada Highway or the Nanaimo Parkway. Proposals have been made for this kind of link for over a century. Because of the extreme depth and soft seabed of the Georgia Strait, and the potential for seismic activity, a bridge or tunnel would face monumental engineering, safety, and environmental challenges at a prohibitive cost. [33] Another major north-south route is Highway 17 a four-lane divided highway that has a mix of interchanges and traffic lights. It connects Victoria with the Saanich Peninsula, terminating the Vancouver Island portion of its route at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal . The main east-west routes are mostly two-lane but are generally free of the congestion seen on some of the four-lane highways. They comprise the following: Highway 4 between Qualicum Beach and Tofino; Highway 30 between Port McNeill and Port Alice .

Vancouver Island is also well served by secondary routes, a growing number of which have efficient roundabouts in place of the traffic lights that can back up traffic on the main highway routes. Numerous active and decommissioned logging and forest service roads provide access into the back country. Many communities are served by public and private transit. Greater Victoria is one of the few places in North America where double-decker buses are used in the regular public transit system. Tofino Bus All Island Express serves all major cities on Vancouver Island including Greyhound stations. [34] Air Qualicum Beach, [37] Tofino, Campbell River and Port Hardy have small airports capable of handling private aircraft and small commercial jets. Harbour Airports and Heliports Floatplane and helicopter traffic to and from Victoria's Inner Harbour (YWH) accounted for 261,712 passengers in 2010, [35] making it the third busiest airport on Vancouver Island. Nanaimo Harbour (ZNA) also operates a busy water aerodrome . Much of the floatplane traffic is downtown-to-downtown service between these two and Vancouver Harbour, the primary carriers being Harbour Air , West Coast Air , and Baxter Aviation .

Harbour Air also flies to other areas around Vancouver, service to Seattle's Lake Union is provided by Kenmore Air , and Orca Airways runs flights between Vancouver and Tofino Harbour . These carriers make several daily scheduled flights, weather permitting. Helicopter service is provided by Helijet in Victoria and various private operators elsewhere. See also Vancouver - definition of Vancouver by The Free Dictionary Vancouver - definition of Vancouver by The Free Dictionary Van·cou·ver (văn-ko͞o′vər) 1. A city of southwest British Columbia, Canada, on the Strait of Georgia opposite Vancouver Island. The largest city in the province, it developed as a port and commercial center beginning with the arrival of the railroad in 1887 and the Klondike gold rush of 1897-1898. 2. A city of southwest Washington on the Columbia River opposite Portland, Oregon. Founded as Fort Vancouver by the Hudson's Bay Company in the 1820s, it is a deep-water port. Vancouver (vænˈkuːvə) n 1.

(Placename) Vancouver Island an island of SW Canada, off the SW coast of British Columbia: separated from the Canadian mainland by the Strait of Georgia and Queen Charlotte Sound, and from the US mainland by Juan de Fuca Strait; the largest island off the W coast of North America. Chief town: Victoria. Pop: 706 243 (2001). Area: 32 137 sq km (12 408 sq miles) 2. (Placename) a city in SW Canada, in SW British Columbia: Canada's chief Pacific port, named after Captain George Vancouver: university (1908). Pop: 545 671 (2001) 3. (Placename) Mount Vancouver a mountain on the border between Canada and Alaska, in the St Elias Mountains. Height: 4785 m (15 700 ft) Vancouver (vænˈkuːvə) n (Biography) Captain George. 1757–98, English navigator, noted for his exploration of the Pacific coast of North America (1792–94) Van•cou•ver n.

1. George, 1758–98, English explorer. 2. a large island in SW Canada, off the SW coast of British Columbia. 12,408 sq. mi. (32,135 sq. km). 3. a seaport in SW British Columbia, on the Strait of Georgia opposite SE Vancouver island. 471,844; with suburbs 1,831,665. 4. Mount, a mountain on the boundary between Alaska and Canada, in the St. Elias Mountains. 15,700 ft. (4785 m). ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: About the Strait | Georgia Strait Alliance Learn about: Ecology – Geology – Economy – Threats Where is the Georgia Strait? The Strait of Georgia lies between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, with the Canada-US border running to its south. It is about two-thirds the length of Vancouver Island, running from its southern tip, north to where its waters narrow to almost meet the mainland coast. This northern area is choked with small islands and rapid tidal passages.

Beyond that point, Johnstone Strait stretches northwest to meet Queen Charlotte Strait, then the open Pacific Ocean. This beautiful inland sea is 220 km (135 miles) long and at its narrowest point, about 25 km (15 miles) wide. The mean depth of these waters is 156 metres (512 ft), with a maximum depth of 447 metres (1,467 ft). Its surface area is approximately 6,800 square kilometres (2,600 sq mi). Did you know? Mariners often called it the “Gulf of Georgia”, as that was the name Captain George Vancouver mistakenly gave it in 1792, and how it appeared on early maps and charts. This is why the hundreds of islands located here are called the Gulf Islands. Orca breaching in Vancouver Harbor The Salish Sea Georgia Strait, Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are together known as the Salish Sea (shown in red on the map above), in recognition of the Coast Salish peoples who have lived in this region for millenia.

Together, these bodies of water form a huge estuary system, a place where hundreds of rivers flow into the sea. From tiny creeks, all the way to the huge Fraser River, these fresh water sources help to feed and shape the unique characteristics of the region and make the Strait of Georgia a body of water rich with a great diversity of life. Georgia Strait is among the most biologically productive marine ecosystems in the world, providing critical habitat for a huge diversity of fish, marine mammals, invertebrates, shorebirds and marine plants – and it needs our protection. Ecology of the Strait Cowichan River Estuary. Photo: Gerry Thomasen The Strait supports an estimated 3000 species of marine life and has a wide variety of marine habitats. Estuaries From a biological point of view, the most productive habitats in the region are estuaries – the places where rivers meet the sea, and fresh water gradually mixes with salt. As well as being vital for fish and wildlife, salt marshes and other wetland vegetation serve as the “kidneys” of the ecosystem, trapping and holding water and air-borne contaminants such as the sulfur in acid rain. The Fraser River carries rich silt and fresh water far across the Strait.

This 850-mile long river drains over 20 million hectares — one quarter of BC. The Fraser has the largest salmon runs in North America and its estuary is a vital stopover for migrating birds from three continents. Wolf eel Orcas Diversity is Key The Strait is made of a myriad of habitats – intertidal zones , deep water regions , rocky reefs , wetlands and glass sponge reefs , to name a few – that support a huge variety of plant and animal life including: seals, porpoises, killer whales , sea lions and other marine mammals at least 200 species of fish including forage fish and five species of wild salmon more than 1500 invertebrate species hundreds of species of seabirds and shorebirds about 500 marine plant species, including 200 varieties of seaweeds Meet some other interesting creatures that call the Strait home. Did you know? Protection of species at risk such as the southern resident killer whale is one of the motivators that inspired the formation of the Georgia Strait Alliance? Our species protection work remains an important part of our organization today and is at the heart of many of our programs and initiatives.

Geology The Salish Sea is born… 150 million years ago, colliding continental plates created the Georgia Depression. Within the Depression are the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound, together known as the Georgia Basin. 14,000 years ago, a slow moving river of ice flowed through the Fraser Valley and formed the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the body of water that separates Vancouver Island from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The enormous glaciers carved hills and valleys and their slow meltdown and retreat made room for the temperate climate which characterizes the Georgia Basin today. The Coast Salish people have lived here since the glaciers retreated. They called the region “Sqla-lot-sis” [phonetic pronunciation], which means “homeland”. Cross-section of southwestern British Columbia illustrating the ongoing geologic processes that form rocks – picture (above) and text (below) by Canadian Geoscience Education Network. What’s happening now? Rocks are forming today in a great tectonic ‘kitchen’ below southwestern BC. Fueled by heat from the earth’s interior and collision between continental North America and the undersliding oceanic plate, this kitchen produces a variety of rock types along with earthquakes and rising mountains.

Sediment eroded from mountains accumulates in basins such as the Strait of Georgia and converts with deep burial to sedimentary rocks. Forces of tectonic collision deform deep crustal rocks into new metamorphic rocks. Melted rocks cool to form bodies of igneous granitic rocks. Where these rock melts rise to the surface, volcanoes are built. Ongoing uplift and erosion of mountains over time bring deeply buried rocks to the surface. Economy Port of Metro Vancouver is Canada’s biggest port, handling 135 million tonnes of cargo every year. Georgia Strait is essential to residents of the region for income, transportation, recreation and quality of life. It’s a working body of water that supports economic engines for the province including being a magnet for tourists from all around the world. These waters have been, and continue to be, important for commercial, sports and aboriginal fishing. The shellfish industry is also economically important, with many shellfish growers located in communities around the Strait. Many others work on these waters in transport, towing and other forms of marine commerce, including being home to Canada’s biggest port, which handles 135 million tonnes of cargo every year.

In addition, a wide range of small and large businesses depend on these waters – from restaurants to cement plants and logging boom grounds. Georgia Strait is the heart of this region – for our communities and our economy, and for the many creatures who call it home. A thriving and sustainable Vancouver waterfront: Through our Waterfront Initiative we seek to build a shoreline that supports current and future needs for recreation, access to nature, healthy ecosystems and a strong economy that benefits all citizens. Threats In 1970, Canada’s federal parks branch called Georgia Strait “one of the world’s most spectacularly beautiful and ecologically rich areas” close to a population concentration. Today, Parks Canada calls southern Georgia Strait “the most at-risk natural environment in Canada”. Population map of the Salish Sea courtesy of Sea Doc Society The Strait and its watersheds face serious environmental problems – the bulk of these caused by the region’s rapid human population growth and the urbanization and development that has come with it. Our population around the Strait is expected to increase from its current level of about 3 million, to over 4 million by 2020.

If the population of adjacent Puget Sound is factored in, these figures rise to about 8 million today and nearly 10 million by 2020. Urban development and sprawl are an incredible stressor on the Strait. Marine life in our region faces many threats. These include toxic chemicals from industry and municipalities, oil spills (small and large), climate change , destruction of critical habitat , mismanagement of fisheries and marine resources, and many other impacts. Georgia Strait is still a biologically rich and beautiful place. It’s not too late to turn the tide: if we work together to find the solutions to protect these waters and the life in them, we can turn around the damage that’s been done and create a more sustainable future for this region and its communities.

Question: Name the island separated from the mainland by the Juan de Fuca, Georgia and Queen Charlotte Straits?
Answer: Vancouver Island