Vancouver Island Geography...an undersea mountain raises it's head!
Vancouver Island geography is part of the reason that this British Columbia island has been voted the #1 island in North America for 8 consecutive years by readers of Conde Nast, the famous travel magazine. The magnificent scenery has a great deal to do with the love of the island by Conde Nast readers. And, once you have a glimpse of it, your heart will be captured by the beauty of Vancouver Island, as well. The photo below shows you just one of the incredible scenes along the rugged coastline of the island.
Photo courtesy of Peter Macdonald
The rugged coastlines are just part
of the topographical beauty of Vancouver Island
Not only did Vancouver Island receive honors from Conde Nast, but it has also been voted as the Best Island of North America by the readers of Travel+Leisure Magazine!After years of keeping the beauty of the island a secret, the travel industry has discovered what’s so special about this Canadian island in the Pacific Northwest!
Geographical History
of Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island actually started as a range of undersea mountains!Vancouver Island is a product of volcanic activity that started about 300 million years ago. Much of the earth was moved around like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and Vancouver Island is no different. The actual land mass was probably located south of the Equator and slowly moved north: at an estimated rate of about two inches a year!...okay 7 or 8 centimetres.
Geography of Vancouver Island Today
Today the island is made up primarily of the north-south running Beaufort Range, which is the top of a much larger undersea mountain range.
Vancouver Island geography is quite impressive. The island is:- The 43rd largest island in the world
- The largest island on the western side of North America
- The 11th largest island in Canada
- The largest island in British Columbia
At 12,407 square miles or 32,134 square kilometers Vancouver Island measures 285 miles by about 50 miles (or 460 km by 80 km), and is Canada’s second most populated island, after Montreal. (Isle de Montreal) The population was estimated at 734,860 in 2004, with about half living in the greater Victoria area (331,491), at the south end of the island. The main cities by population, after Victoria (Victoria itself is 78 659), are: Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Parksville, Comox, Courtney and Campbell River.
Vancouver Island’s Mountains
and the Wild West
The highest point on the island is The Golden Hinde at 7200 feet (2195 metres). The Golden Hinde is located in Strathcona Provincial Park, near the center of Vancouver Island. There is one Glacier, also in this park, named the Comox Glacier.
The west coast is isolated and rugged with many inlets and fjords. The largest lake is Kennedy Lake on the west coast. The east coast, on the other hand, is a land of rolling hills and meadows. Vancouver Island is separated from the British Columbia mainland by the Strait of Georgia (moves are afoot to have this renamed!), Johnston Strait and Queen Charlotte Strait in the north. The island is separated from the U.S. (Washington State) by the Straits of Juan de Fuca. It takes about one hour and forty-five minutes to cross the straits by ferry. Vancouver Island geography has much for you to discover.
Vancouver Island Geography to Canadian Vacations
Vancouver Island Geography to Vancouver Island
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