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Interesting Facts About
Vancouver Island
Everything you want to know about Vancouver Island is right here!
If you're wanting Vancouver Island tourism information, our site's an easy and comprehensive guide for all the great outdoor activities you want to find out about.
Take a look at our
Vancouver Island map
to help you plan which areas you want to explore.
As one of the most popular British Columbia vacation destinations - especially for outdoor enthusiasts - the Island's got a perfect mix of adventures.
We've put together brief regional highlights about Vancouver Island.
Here are some interesting facts...
The largest Island on the West Coast of North America, Vancouver Island is separated from the mainland of Canada by the Georgia Strait, Johnstone Strait, and the Queen Charlotte Strait. It is separated from the United States mainland by the Juan de Fuca Strait in the south.
Length: Approximately 280 miles (450 km).
Area: Approximately 12,076 square miles, or roughly 32,000 square kilometres - about 2/3 the size of England.
Coastline Length: Approximately 2,136 miles (3,440 km).
Highest Elevation: Mount Golden Hinde at 2,200 m.
Population: 705,113
Western Coast
Beautifully diverse region, from spectacular beaches to rugged mountain fjords. Here's where you'll find the best surfing north of California. Excellent hiking trails, and some of the Island's best Salmon and Halibut fishing grounds are located here.
Eastern Coast
Some of the most sheltered and moderate weather in British Columbia. Here you'll find some of the best diving and sheltered sea kayaking in North America. As the most populated side of the Island, unique cities and towns dot the eastern Vancouver Island coastal landscape.
Southern Island
At the most southerly point, is Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. A charming and historic urban center, this is a great walking city! Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest in North America. The southern region is also home to some of the Island's finest wineries.
Northern Island
On Northern Vancouver Island, you will find pristine, remote wilderness, untouched beaches and fantastic west coast fishing. Cape Scott Park provides a rugged hiking adventure with some of the most spectacular west coast scenery you've ever seen (Graeme has hiked it!)
And here's a few more REALLY interesting facts we want to add about Vancouver Island:
- Della Falls in Strathcona Park (North Central Island) is the highest waterfall in North America (440 metres high or 1,443 feet).
- The Island is now known as one of the best Caving areas in the world with over 1,050 known caves.
- Canada's tallest known tree, a Sitka Spruce, is located in the Carmanah Valley on the southwestern side of Vancouver Island.
- The United States originally claimed Vancouver Island in the 1800s, but surrendered it to Great Britain in the Oregon Treaty of 1846.
- Victoria's Fan Tan Alley is the narrowest commercial street in Canada.
Want to find out more about our Island's cities and towns?
Click Here to discover a Vancouver Island driving vacation
. We'll tell you more about cities and towns on the Island.
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