Facts about Vancouver Island
If you are planning to visit, or are already on, Vancouver Island, here are some fun facts to make your stay more interesting and knowledgeable.
Fast Facts
- Vancouver Island is in the North-Eastern Part of the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of Canada.
- It is part of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
- It has been the homeland to many indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
- Vancouver Island is the world’s 43rd largest island, Canada’s 11th largest island.
- Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, the Island’s largest city.
- It has the world’s largest hockey stick in Duncan.
- It has the world’s largest totem pole in Victoria, B.C.
- The Island has an average coldest temperature of -2 degrees Celsius in the winter and an average high of 23 degrees Celsius in the summer. It is considered to have the mildest climate in Canada.
- Vancouver Island is 3x bigger than the island of Hawaii, 3x smaller than Ireland.
How was the island formed?
The island was formed through a combination of processes, including tectonic plate movement, volcanism, erosion and glaciation. In terms of tectonic plate movement, the island is mostly made up of volcanic and sedimentary rock which was formed offshore on the now disappeared Kula oceanic plate. Around 55 million years ago, a microplate of the Kula Plate subducted below the North American continental margin with great strain.
The mountains in Vancouver Island have produced a rain shadow so that the west of the island receives more annual rainfall than the east of the Island. The climate is generally mild and despite variations in rainfall this has led to it being a natural temperate forest biome. Along with many fast-flowing rivers these physical factors combine to make the island a fantastic location to explore the natural wonders that these rich ecosystems have to offer.
Interested in Vancouver Island? We have a great selection of accommodations! Check out our Tanglewood Beach Homes & Qualicum Landing Vacation Rentals and contact breakaway@lloydstravel.com or call 1-877-778-6466!
Written by Natsumi Matsumoto