Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Vancouver Island is located off of Canada's Pacific coast in British Columbia, Canada. It has a long storied history of settlement ranging from natives as well as Spanish and British settlers. The island is named after George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy. The current population of the Island is estimated at 750,000 people.

Vancouver Island temperatures range from 32 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to about 75 degrees max in the summer. Vancouver Island is one of the few places on earth that is comfortable all year round. It rarely snows in this area. The wildlife consists of animals including grizzly bears, mountain goats, porcupines, moose, skunks and coyotes. It even boasts a species exclusive to the Island with the Vancouver Island marmot. The terrain ranges from forests that stay green through all the seasons and mountains with snow caps.

The natives consist of two tribes, the Nootka on the west coast and the Kwakiutl on the north of the Island. There were various other tribes inhabiting the south and east coasts. This is before European and Spanish explorers found the Island and claimed it as their own. The Island was originally named after representatives of both countries. It was originally the Island of Quadra and Vancouver. Eventually the Spanish lost interest in the Island and the name Quadra was dropped.

Vancouver Island is industrious with the primary businesses being forestry, tourism and fishing. The logging operations specialize in "paper pulp." Trees are planted every year and harvested every 30 years. There is also a province wide effort to attract tourists to resort locations such as Tofino. It has proven effective as many locally owned and run resorts are prospering during the summer seasons. If anyone had vacation time or a good excuse for a trip such as a honeymoon, they may find themselves at one of the premier vacation spots in North America. One popular vacation spot is the national parks, Sproat Lake in Port Alberni and Tofino, all which offer hiking, camping and water activities.

Transportation to and from the Island can be done by automobile or by plane. The cars would have to be ferried across to the Island by BC Ferries and then would be able to traverse the highways built there. There are hours of beautiful scenic traveling from one end of the Island to the other. Another way to travel is to take a plane to one of the two airports on the Island from several major Canadian cities. There are also two major railroad lines that traverse the island and bring supplies from point to point.

Vancouver Island has a lot to offer and the natural beauty and man-made attractions have the population rising. This trend will likely continue as more people discover the Island's potential.