Gulf Islands

Encyclopedia : G : GU : GUL : Gulf Islands

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The Gulf Islands is the name collectively given to the islands in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada. They are also the name New Zealanders give to the Hauraki Gulf Islands, off the Auckland coast.

The name "Gulf Islands" comes from a historical misnomer for the Strait of Georgia, the Gulf of Georgia.

The Gulf Islands are usually divided into two groups, the southern and northern Gulf Islands. The dividing line is approximately that formed by the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, and the mouth of the Fraser River on the mainland.

Southern Gulf Islands

The southern Gulf Islands form part of an archipelago that stretches to the San Juan Islands in the United States.

The following are among the hundreds of islands and islets located in the Southern Gulf Islands:

The names of the major islands in alphabetical order are:

• Gabriola Island
• Galiano Island
• Kuper Island
• Mayne Island
• North and South Pender Islands
• Saltspring Island
• Saturna Island
• Thetis Island
• Valdes Island

Canada's latest National Park - Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada - was established in 2003 by Parks Canada to protect the area’s unique ecosystem, which is rich with ecologically diverse plants and sea-life including: gnarled Garry oaks, delicate wild lilies, thick kelp beds and magnificent Orca whales.

Northern Gulf Islands

The names of the separate islands in alphabetical order are:

• Denman Island
• Hornby Island
• Lasqueti Island
• Texada Island

Cortes Island, and Quadra Island are sometimes considered part of the Gulf Islands, but as they are not in the Georgia Strait they are more properly considered part of the Discovery Islands.

See also

• List of Canadian national parks

External links

• [The Gulf Islands Guide]
• [Gulf Islands National Park] — Parks Canada

Members of the Capital Regional District
Municipalities: Central Saanich | Colwood | Esquimalt | Highlands | Langford | Metchosin | North Saanich | Oak Bay | Saanich | Sidney | Sooke | Victoria | View Royal Electoral areas: B & D (Juan de Fuca) | F (Salt Spring Island) | G (Southern Gulf Islands)

 

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