Vancouver Island

A map of Vancouver Island, showing the location of Vancouver and Victoria.

Vancouver Island is an island that is part of the province of British Columbia, Canada. Its area is 31,285 square kilometres (12,079 sq mi). The island is in the south-western part of the province and is named after the British explorer George Vancouver.

The first people to live on the island, before the Europeans came, were the Nuu-chah-nulth, the Salish, and the Kwakiutl. As of 2009, over 700,000 people live here.

There are no bridges or tunnels between Vancouver Island and the mainland. There are ferries, whichcarry people and cars to and from the island. One route crosses the Strait of Georgia to the Tsawwassen Peninsula,from roads go to Vancouver and other cities in Canada as part of the Trans-Canada Highway. Another ferry route crosses the Strait of Juan de Fuca and reaches Anacortes in the U.S. state of Washington from which roads go to Seattle and other cities along the West Coast.

Cities and towns

There are many cities and towns on Vancouver Island. The biggest is Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.

Other settlements on Vancouver Island include the following:

• Lake Cowichan
• Nanaimo
• Courtenay
• Comox
• Duncan
• Crofton
• Port Alberni
• Ladysmith
• Chemainus
• Port Hardy
• Parksville
• Cumberland
• Tofino
• Uclulet
• Colwood
• Sidney
• Qualicum Beach
• Coombs
• Port McNeill
• Campbell River

Vancouver Island Media

• 

  A Kwakwakaʼwakw wedding ceremony in 1914

• 

  Dionisio Alcalá Galiano was the first European to circumnavigate Vancouver Island

• 

  The Great Seal of the Island of Vancouver and its Dependencies was designed by Benjamin Wyon, Chief Engraver of Her Majesty's Seals, c. 1849. The symbolic badge he designed was the basis for the flag of Vancouver Island, which is still unofficially flown today.

• 

  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 but is used today as an unofficial representative flag.

• 

  Topographic map of Vancouver Island

• 

  Köppen climate types in Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands

• 

  The centre of Vancouver Island contains high mountains, such as Golden Hinde.

• 

  The western side of Vancouver Island hosts a rainforest.

• 

  View from Mount Maguire in East Sooke Regional Park towards Washington

• 

  Northern resident orca Springer with her first calf in 2013.