Vancouver Island
It may look small on the Minimap, but Vancouver Island is 1.5 times larger than Wales and about the same size as Maryland. From north to south it is 460 kilometres (286 miles) long. Captain Cook landed on the island in March 1778 and claimed it for Britain. Despite Cook’s claim, ownership of the area was subject to dispute, first with the Spanish and later with the USA. Ownership of the territory was finally settled when the 1846 Oregon Treaty fixed the borders between the western USA and British territories. In 1843 the Hudson Bay Company set up a fort where Victoria now stands and following an influx of settlers the island became a British colony in 1849. The colony joined British Columbia in 1866.
Lumber yard on Muchalat Inlet near Gold River
While much of the island away from Victoria is relatively undeveloped, the view of the scenery is interrupted now and then by industry. Here you can see the splash of a log entering the water at a lumbar yard beside the Muchalet Inlet. Other industry in this area includes salmon farming, which is causing concern about pollution of the Inlet. Click Tab 2 for a view of the Inlet and Log Pound.
Thelwood Creek at the end of Buttle Lake
Strathcona Provincial Park is a mountain wilderness that has been preserved in the middle of Vancouver Island, It was the first Provincial Park in BC, founded in 1911. This is an area with lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and abundant wildlife.
The Inner Harbour & Government Building, Victoria
This is an island of two parts, the city of Victoria dominates the south while the rest of the island is much less developed with logging, fishing and tourism as the main industries. Victoria was set up as the capital of the Colony of Vancouver Island. It grew to become both the commercial and government centre of British Columbia. However, following the arrival of the transcontinental railway, the City of Vancouver quickly overtook Victoria as the commercial centre. The government of BC is still based in Victoria in the large ‘US Capitol’ style building visible in this picture over the other side of the Inner Harbour.
Nimpkish Valley
Towards the northern end of the island, the Nimpkish Valley remains relatively unspoiled, despite being a major logging area. An old logging railway line through the valley has been restored and in summer steam hauled trips are available.
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Totem pole overlooking Saanich Inlet
You don’t have to no far out of Victoria to find great scenery. Saanich Inlet is a long fjord that pierces the island just north of Victoria. If you have a car you can see this area on a day trip from Vancouver by going out on the Tsawwasssen to Swartz Bay ferry and returning by the Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay ferry. The road between Swartz Bay and Nanaimo runs right along along the side of Saanich Inlet, and a stop at this viewpoint with its painted totem pole is a must.
Myra Falls
Provincial Park status has not put a stop to industry within the Strathcona Park. Mining has been carried out at Myra Falls since 1966. Fortunately, the mining activities have not had an impact on the view of the waterfall, which tumbles over a series of drops, the last one directly into Buttle Lake.
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© Mike Elsden 1981 - 2023
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