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49-567: Howe Sound's mouth at the Strait of Georgia is situated between West Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast . The sound is triangular, opening to the southwest into the Strait of Georgia, and extends 42 km (26 mi) northeast to its head at Squamish . There are several islands in the sound, three of which are large and mountainous in their own right. The steep-sided mainland shores funnel

98-618: A great place to view seals sunning themselves. Pam Rocks is a reporting weather station for the marine weather system. Winter northerly gales can reach close to hurricane force here, known as squamish . Between Gambier Island and the Port Mellon mill lies Woolridge Island, privately owned with a single residence. British Columbia Highway 99 (the Sea-to-Sky Highway, also known as the Squamish Highway) runs along

147-504: A line running from East Point on Saturna Island to Patos Island , Sucia Island , and Matia Island , then to Point Midgley on Lummi Island . This line touches the northern edges of Rosario Strait , which leads south to the Strait of Juan de Fuca , and Boundary Pass , which leads south to Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Strait of Georgia has a mean depth of 156 m (512 ft) and average surface area of 6,800 km (2,600 sq mi). The Ballenas Basin in

196-476: A mecca for windsurfers, kite boarders and keelboat sailors. Just south of town along Highway 99 is Shannon Falls , a tourist attraction and provincial park, and Darrell Bay , which is the ferry dock for service to the former pulp mill at Woodfibre , across the sound. Woodfibre has no road access. From the early 1900s until 1973 there was a small company town surrounding the mill where most employees lived. By 1975 all employees had relocated, mostly to Squamish, and

245-469: A shooting site for a variety of TV and movie productions, including for The X-Files TV series. Horseshoe Bay is a residential and commercial district of West Vancouver on the southern edge of the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The highway clings to the cliffside above the BC Ferries terminal at Horseshoe Bay. Restaurants, tourist shops and galleries, a pub or two and recreational marinas are also situated in

294-521: A shortage of food available in the estuaries that surround Howe Sound. The Howe Sound ecosystem provides $ 7.5 billion dollars in natural services. With threats to both economic impact and natural impact, many people rallied around the cause of protecting Howe Sound. Groups like My Sea to Sky, Restore the Shore, Marine Stewardship Initiative, and other companies are heading the way to restore the ecosystem. These groups are gaining support from many people from

343-651: Is a community of about 1,000 permanent residents in West Vancouver , in the Canadian province of British Columbia . Situated on the western tip of West Vancouver at the entrance to Howe Sound , the village marks the western end of Highway 1 on mainland British Columbia (and furthermore the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway on the Canadian mainland). It also serves as the southern end of

392-590: Is a constituent part of the Salish Sea . Archipelagos and narrow channels mark each end of the Strait of Georgia, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands in the south, and the Discovery Islands in the north. The main channels to the south are Boundary Pass , Haro Strait and Rosario Strait , which connect the Strait of Georgia to the Strait of Juan de Fuca . In the north, Discovery Passage

441-417: Is a small residential community, incorporated as a village, climbing the mountainside from Howe Sound up to the west peak of the pair of summits known as The Lions , which overlook Vancouver on the other side. Near Squamish is Britannia Beach , the former gold and copper mining town and port with some highway-based eateries and stores. Its name does not come directly from associations with Britain, but from

490-640: Is also an unincorporated area and part of the Metro Vancouver Electoral Area A which is a member of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. Bowen Island is the most populous island and is nearest Vancouver , being just opposite Horseshoe Bay. It is incorporated as an island municipality and is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver. Gambier Island is the largest of the Howe Sound islands, to

539-602: Is often exposed to strong overnight and winter outflow northerly winds, often called 'the Squamish' derived from where it comes. Keats Island , near Gibson's Landing, has numerous summer homes lining its shores, in addition to a large church camp for children, a large retreat resort and Plumper Cove Marine Provincial Park . The island is serviced by water taxi from Langdale. There is a small core of permanent residents living in Eastbourne. Between Keats and Bowen Islands lie

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588-445: Is still dominated by the forest industry. The "pond" at Andy's Bay is one of North America's largest logsorts. A resident-operated woodlot on provincial land (WL039) is located near Andy's Bay, with active logging and reforestation. The northeast quadrant of Gambier also is Crown land, with two more major woodlots proposed by the provincial Ministry of Forests, but not pursued as yet due to the opposition of many local residents, members of

637-446: Is the entrance of English Bay and Burrard Inlet . Also in the vicinity of Howe Sound's mouth, at Point Atkinson is Lighthouse Park . Just north of Langdale is Port Mellon , another pulp and paper mill somewhat larger than Woodfibre . Port Mellon, which, unlike Woodfibre, produces paper and pulp (and is serviced by road from Gibsons/Langdale) is one of the oldest operating mills in B.C. Woodfibre's closure included measures securing

686-534: Is the main channel connecting the Strait of Georgia to Johnstone Strait . The strait is a major navigation channel on the west coast of North America , owing to the presence of the port of Vancouver , and also due to its role as the southern entrance to the Intracoastal route known as the Inside Passage . The United States Geological Survey defines the southern boundary of the Strait of Georgia as

735-518: The BC Ferries system cross the strait, between Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (near Victoria ) and between Horseshoe Bay (north of Vancouver) and Nanaimo . The Strait of Georgia is known as a premier scuba diving and whale watching location. In 1967, the Georgia Strait inspired the name of Vancouver's alternative newspaper, The Georgia Straight , which has been published continuously since. Towns and cities on

784-477: The Georgia Strait is an arm of the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the extreme southwestern mainland coast of British Columbia , Canada, and the extreme northwestern mainland coast of Washington , United States . It is approximately 240 kilometres (150 mi) long and varies in width from 20 to 58 kilometres (12 to 36 mi). Along with the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound , it

833-666: The Sea-to-Sky Highway , with Lions Bay just 15 minutes north. Horseshoe Bay is the location of the third-busiest BC Ferries terminal, the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal . Because of the presence of the ferry terminal, it is considered a control city on the Upper Levels Highway westbound. 49°22′26″N 123°16′38″W  /  49.37389°N 123.27722°W  / 49.37389; -123.27722 This Metro Vancouver location article

882-539: The Woodfibre pulp mill in 2006 signalled an end to the resource-based economy here. Squamish is a world centre for rock climbing, with the 700 m (2,300 ft) bulk of the Stawamus Chief , a huge rock formation always busy with climbers, along with other formations overlooking downtown and the head of Howe Sound. In addition, the strong winds and flat waters at the upper end of Howe Sound have made Squamish

931-463: The "Gulf of Georgia" by George Vancouver of Great Britain , during his extensive expedition along the west coast of North America . Vancouver designated the mainland in this region as New Georgia and areas farther north as New Hanover and New Bremen. The June 23, 1946, Vancouver Island earthquake shocked the Strait of Georgia region, causing the bottom of Deep Bay to sink between 3 and 26 m (9.8 and 85.3 ft). The two busiest routes of

980-411: The 1950s, with a highway built in the later 1960s that was the precursor to today's Sea-to-Sky Highway. BC Ferries runs regularly scheduled ferry service between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale and between Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove on Bowen Island. They also run a foot-passenger-only ferry that serves New Brighton on Gambier Island and Keats Landing and Eastbourne settlements on Keats Island from

1029-469: The 1960s what was then called the Squamish Highway was finally pushed through from Vancouver. This made the former steamer service unnecessary. Once a thriving forestry town, with recent cutbacks in logging along with the closure and dismantling of a major sawmill in 2004, Squamish has become a tourist destination and a commuter community for workers in nearby Whistler and Vancouver. The closure of

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1078-528: The Georgia Strait proper, such as the inter-insular straits and channels of the Gulf Islands , and may refer to communities on the shore of southern Vancouver Island. As defined by George Vancouver in 1792, the Gulf of Georgia included all the inland waters beyond the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, including Puget Sound , Bellingham Bay , the waters around the San Juan Islands , as well as

1127-691: The Langdale ferry terminal near Gibsons , an easy transfer from the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale . There is also private water taxi service from Horseshoe Bay and Langdale to Bowen Island , Gambier Island and Keats Island. Squamish is a minor deepwater port. It was the original southern terminus of the BCR in the days when it was the Pacific Great Eastern, and had a busy ferry terminal where travellers would disembark from ferries and steamers bringing them in from Vancouver Harbour . In

1176-607: The MV Britannia , the old Vancouver-Squamish steamer (a new MV Britannia built in 1983 is in use as a tourboat based in Coal Harbour , Vancouver). Today the mine mill site is the Britannia Mine Museum , with mine shaft tours, gold panning , etc. The prominent multi-story mine building underwent a restoration with the replacement of hundreds of window panes. The former mine site is also frequently used as

1225-643: The Pasley group, a cluster of privately owned islands, each with a scattering of seasonal homes. Further southeast lies Worlcombe Island, also seasonally inhabited. Uninhabited islands in the northern section of Howe Sound include the Defence Islands , a pair of rocky islands that comprise the Defence Islands Indian Reserves 28 and 28A. Christie Islet and Pam Rocks just south of Anvil Island are recognized bird breeding sites and

1274-643: The Squamish Nation, whose territory this includes, and concerned supporters of a less-industrial Howe Sound. The island has excellent hiking in the provincial Crown land that dominates its north sector. A third, smaller but extremely steep and conical island to the northeast of both is Anvil Island or Lhaxwm. Anvil Island has a summer church camp, Daybreak Point Bible Camp, as well as a number of seasonal cottages. All buildings on Anvil are located on its southern side on either end of Irby Point. North Bay, which looks out to Mount Garibaldi and The Black Tusk ,

1323-647: The Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and Strait of Juan de Fuca, but instead as a collective term for all three. The British Columbia Geographical Names Office passed a resolution recommending that the name only be adopted by the Geographical Names Board of Canada should its US counterpart approve the name change. The United States Board on Geographic Names approved the name on November 12, 2009 and Canada approved it in 2010. [REDACTED] Media related to Strait of Georgia at Wikimedia Commons Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver Horseshoe Bay

1372-484: The Strait of Georgia. First Nations communities have surrounded the Strait of Georgia for thousands of years. The first European exploration of the area was undertaken by Captain Jose Maria Narvaez and Pilot Juan Carrasco of Spain in 1791. At this time Francisco de Eliza gave the strait the name "Gran Canal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera." In 1792, it was renamed for King George III as

1421-549: The area and have raised money and awareness. In 2021 the Area was able to achieve the status of a Biosphere Reserve from UNESCO. The main goals for the restoration of the area are conservation, development, reconciliation, climate action, and logistical support. The project is still ongoing, but many effects of the project can be seen to already take place. Many sea animals such as Humpback whales, Minke Whales, Orcas, and sea lions have made returns in great numbers. Passage Island marks

1470-530: The area. The land and islands are still used by Squamish and Shishalh for cultural practices. Both the Squamish and Shishalh are a part of the Coast Salish linguistic and cultural groupings. Spanish explorer José María Narváez observed the sound in 1791 and named it Boca del Carmelo. Captain George Vancouver entered the sound in 1792, and named it after Admiral Earl Howe . In 1888, copper

1519-694: The breezes as the daily thermals build the wind to 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) or more at the northern end of the sound on a typical summer day. A small outcrop of volcanic rock is located on the eastern shore of Howe Sound called the Watts Point volcanic centre . The history of Howe Sound begins with the Indigenous people, the Squamish and Shishalh , who have roamed this land and traveled on this body of water for thousands of years, and whose village sites and camp sites are spread throughout

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1568-595: The centre of the strait reaches a maximum depth of 420 m (1,380 ft) approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Nanaimo . The Fraser River accounts for roughly 80 percent of the freshwater entering the strait. Water circulates in the strait in a generally counterclockwise direction. The strait contains several major islands, the largest by far being Texada Island at 300.45 km (116.00 sq mi). Other major islands include Nelson Island , Denman Island , Lasqueti Island , and Hornby Island . The term "Gulf of Georgia" includes waters other than

1617-455: The community. Ferries from Horseshoe Bay go to Departure Bay in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island , Bowen Island , and Langdale on the Sunshine Coast , which is the ferry terminal for the southern Sunshine Coast. The peninsula southwest of Horseshoe Bay terminates at Whytecliffe, an upscale residential area and public park, which is the southern point of Howe Sound's east shore. South of here

1666-612: The east shore of Howe Sound, linking the Lower Mainland to Lions Bay , Britannia Beach , and Squamish , where it then proceeds inland to Whistler and beyond. From 2007 to 2010, this highway was upgraded to what would ultimately become a mixture of four-lane divided sections, three lane sections with alternating passing lanes, and some improved two lane sections. The first section of Olympics-related improvements, between Horseshoe Bay and Lions Bay, opened in December 2005. Before

1715-760: The entrance to Howe Sound. It has a few year-round residents. It has views of Downtown Vancouver and Vancouver Island . An unincorporated area, it is part of the Metro Vancouver Electoral Area A which is a member of the Metro Vancouver Regional District . Ships entering Howe Sound will pass east or west of Passage Island. In direct view from Horseshoe Bay lies Bowyer Island , another steep sided private island with seasonal homes along its south and west shores. Named in 1857 after Rear-Admiral George Bowyer, Commander of HMS Barfleur. Like Passage Island, Bowyer Island

1764-492: The ferry lands. The store is now closed. This area of Gambier has landline power and telephone. There also are numerous seasonal homes lining the shores of the southern bays (West Bay, Centre Bay, Port Graves, and Halkett Bay) along with several local yacht club outstations in both the southern and northern parts of the island. Beyond the southwest peninsula, seasonal visitors rely on solar, wind and generator power. The northwestern shore of Gambier, with adjacent Thornborough Channel,

1813-549: The fibre supply for Port Mellon, making its future considerably more secure. At the southwest "corner" of Howe Sound, just a few kilometres south of the Langdale Ferry terminal is the town of Gibsons . Gibsons is perhaps best known as the locale for the former CBC Television series The Beachcombers . The restaurant featured in the series, Molly's Reach , remains open for business. Strait of Georgia The Strait of Georgia ( French : Détroit de Géorgie ) or

1862-554: The foot of the bluffs and the shoreline. Furry Creek is the location of a new upscale golf course and resort development. Proposals have called for a new highway from Vancouver via the Capilano River watershed would emerge on Highway 99 at Furry Creek. However, the fact that this route traverses the Lower Mainland's Capilano watershed creates nearly insurmountable political obstacles to its construction. Lions Bay

1911-420: The improvements the highway was thought to be treacherous and was primary used by residents, commercial traffic and people traveling to ski mountains in the winter. Now, the Sea-to-Sky Highway is also used by a variety of tourists and adventure seekers throughout the year. Also following the east shore, and built before and below the highway, is the former British Columbia Railway (BCR) which was leased in 2004 by

1960-431: The mainland are separated from Georgia Strait itself by islands and lesser straits but are often spoken of as being in the Strait of Georgia region. BC Ferries operates ferry services connecting Vancouver Island with the mainland. Notable lines include Duke Point - Tsawwassen , Departure Bay - Horseshoe Bay , and Little River - Westview . Minor ferry operators and water taxis provide service to minor islands dotting

2009-586: The name had a different definition, combining of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound as well as the Strait of Georgia and related waters under the name Salish Sea. This latter definition was made official in 2009 by geographic boards of Canada and the United States. In October 2009, the Washington state Board of Geographic Names approved the Salish Sea toponym, not to replace the names of

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2058-528: The northwest of Bowen, near the Langdale ferry landing. Gambier has a small resident population, plus hundreds more who enjoy the southwest peninsula community in the summer months. This area has a year-round foot ferry, Stormaway IV , run by BC Ferries , and a community centre . Until recently, the only commercial location on the island, the General Store, was located here, near New Brighton , where

2107-642: The provincial government to the Canadian National Railway . The Pacific Great Eastern Railway (which became the BCR) between Squamish and Lillooet was constructed 1912–16, and Squamish became a busy place as a rail-port for freight and also burgeoning passenger traffic as lodges up the rail line became popular with weekenders from the city, who reached the railway via the MV Britannia . Railway connections to North Vancouver were completed in

2156-467: The strait include Campbell River , Courtenay , Comox , Qualicum Beach , Parksville , Lantzville , and Nanaimo on the western shore, as well as Powell River , Sechelt, Gibsons , and Greater Vancouver on the east. Across the border in the United States , Bellingham, Washington and other communities also lie on the eastern shore. Other settlements on Vancouver Island (such as Duncan ) and

2205-495: The strait. In March 2008, the Chemainus First Nation proposed renaming the strait the " Salish Sea ", an idea that reportedly met with approval by B.C.'s Aboriginal Relations Minister Mike de Jong , who pledged to put it before the B.C. cabinet for discussion. Making the name "Salish Sea" official required a formal application to the Geographical Names Board of Canada . A parallel American movement promoting

2254-540: The surrounding environment. The toxic materials leaked into the waters of Howe Sound and seeped into the ground. Although the Britannia mine was shut down in 1974 the pollutants that were leaked into the ecosystem stayed persistent. The pollutants as well as over fishing and hunting lead to a dramatic decrease in biodiversity. A loss in humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, seals, salmon, and other species all suffered severely. The salmon were weakened and died off which caused

2303-412: The town was dismantled. Over the next 30 years the mill slowly expanded into the former townsite, but it closed in early 2006. Porteau Cove is a provincial campsite and also a location for scuba diving, as artificial reefs have been sunk in the area. The bluffs above the highway in this area are one of the main avalanche hazards to both the highway and the rail line, which are squeezed together between

2352-612: Was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in recognition of its recovery from industrial pollution and to promote sustainable development. The Sound and many of its features are named after British naval officers. There were multiple Indigenous names in use prior to the colonial period, and the Sound is often referred to by a Squamish name, Átl’ḵa7tsem, meaning "paddling north". In the 20th century Howe Sound experienced high industrial growth. The Britannia mine, chemical plants, and sullfur mills leaked hazardous chemicals and heavy metals into

2401-474: Was discovered in the mountains around Britannia Creek, south of Squamish. Large scale mining began at Britannia Beach in 1905, and by 1929, the largest copper mine in the British Empire was located here, beside the shores of Howe Sound. The mine closed in 1974, but part of its historical legacy has been the large amounts of toxic effluent it has deposited into Howe Sound. In September 2021, Howe Sound

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