Gulf Islands

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For the islands in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, see Hauraki Gulf.

Map showing the location of the Southern Gulf Islands

The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada.

The name "Gulf Islands" comes from "Gulf of Georgia," a historical misnomer for the Strait 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 on Vancouver Island, and the mouth of the Fraser River on the mainland. All the major islands are served by B.C. Ferries.

1 Southern Gulf Islands
2 Northern Gulf Islands
3 Ecology
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Southern Gulf Islands

A view of North Pender Island's shoreline

Arbutus trees and sandstone beaches are common in the Gulf Islands.

The southern Gulf Islands include hundreds of islands and islets, and form part of an archipelago that also includes the San Juan Islands in the United States.

The major islands in alphabetical order are:

[edit] Northern Gulf Islands

The major islands in alphabetical order are:

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.

[edit] Ecology

The islands and surrounding ocean are rich with ecologically diverse plants and sea life including gnarled Garry oaks, delicate wild lilies, thick kelp beds and magnificent Orca whales. 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.

The Gulf Islands are home to one of the last remaining pockets of Garry oak ecosystems. Only about five percent of Garry oak ecosystems remain in their natural state, landing 91 of the approximately 350 species it supports on the province's list of species at risk. The unique Mediterranean climate of the islands is ideal for Garry oak ecosystems. Garry oak ecosystems are home to more plant species, such as the camas, than any other terrestrial ecosystem in coastal B.C. and are one of Canada's most at-risk natural habitats. Today, Garry oak meadows exist in the shallow and exposed soil of valleys, rocky foothills and southern slopes — areas that the settlers of the past 150 years have found unsuitable for agriculture or development.

The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT), a partnership of a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies that comprise 22 individuals, was established in 1999 after the delegates of the First International Garry Oak Ecosystem Symposium met in Victoria and declared the ecosystem endangered. Since then, GOERT has been working to motivate public and private restoration of the rare ecosystem and promote conservation activities. [1]