Vancouver Island is the
largest island on the west coast of North America. It is a little
over 32,000 square kilometers in size and is 460 kilometers in
length, 35 to 80 kilometers wide.
The
Islands coast line is 3440 kilometers long and has many hidden
bays, inlets and river
deltas.
The Island is
separated from the B.C. coast by several straights, the Juan De Fuca
Straight on the south end of the island, the Johnston Straight on
the central island and the Queen Charlotte straight on the north end
of the Island. There are numerous narrows, some are quite famous
like the Seymour Narrows near Campbell River.
The west
coast of the Island is a wild and wet land covered by ancient forests of huge trees. Some of the
worlds tallest trees still grow there. The west coast is cut by many
inlets that have mountains bordering them that start at the sea and
go straight up to the sky. The average height of these mountains is
800 metres with some like Mount Golden Hinde, Vancouver Islands
Highest mountain exceeding heights of 2200 metres. The pacific
storms that pound the west coast through out the year and more so in
the winter months are laden with moisture that must be dropped in
order to rise up and over the Island mountains. So the west coast
receives much more rain than the east coast of the island. Truly a
rain forest. The west coast is spotted with small Islands, hot
springs and many large rivers that travel from the mountains to the sea. An incredibly
beautiful place. A place of waterfalls and hidden lakes. A place of
mists and trees. A place of wonder.
There are many off shore Islands
that dot the coast of Vancouver Island, each with its own
history and stories, these islands have many things for the
visitor and locals alike to explore and there are trails and
places to fish and great canoe/kayaking opportunities.
Vancouver Island is the largest island on the west coast of North America. It is a little over 32,000 square kilometers in size and is 460 kilometers in length, 35 to 80 kilometers wide.
the worlds tallest trees still grow there. The west coast is cut by many inlets that have mountains bordering them that start at the sea and go straight up to the sky. The average height of these mountains is 800 metres with some like Mount Golden Hinde, Vancouver Islands Highest mountain exceeding heights of 2200 metres. The pacific storms that pound the west coast through out the year and more so in the winter months are laden with moisture that must be dropped in order to rise up and over the Island mountains. So the west coast receives much more rain than the east coast of the island. Truly a rain forest. The west coast is spotted with small Islands, hot springs and many large rivers that travel from the mountains to the sea. An incredibly beautiful place. A place of waterfalls and hidden lakes. A place of mists and trees. A place of wonder.
