Strait of Georgia

The Strait of Georgia is a big body of water.

It sits between Canada and the United States. Many islands sit in the water. Texada Island is the largest one.

A big river brings fresh water here. This helps the water flow.

Many people live in towns near the shore. You can ride a ferry on the water.

People like to go there to see whales. It is a great place to dive. The water is very special.

The Strait of Georgia is a large arm of the Salish Sea.

It sits between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. The water also reaches the coast of Washington in the United States.

Many islands sit in the strait. Texada Island is the largest one. Other islands include Nelson and Denman.

In the north, the Discovery Islands mark the end. In the south, the Gulf Islands are found.

The Fraser River brings much fresh water here. It gives about 80 percent of the fresh water. This water flows in a circle. The water moves in a counterclockwise way.

Many people live in towns near the water. You can see Nanaimo from the strait.

People use big ferries to travel between the land and the island. Many people also visit to watch whales or to go scuba diving.

The strait is a busy place for ships too.

The Strait of Georgia is a large arm of the Salish Sea.

It sits between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. The water also reaches the northwestern coast of Washington in the United States. This area is a very important path for ships to travel. It serves as a southern entrance to the Inside Passage. The port of Vancouver makes this a busy place for navigation.

Many islands and channels mark the ends of the strait. In the north, the Discovery Islands mark the boundary. The Discovery Passage is the main way to reach the Johnstone Strait. In the south, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands are found. Several narrow channels like Haro Strait and Rosario Strait lead south. These paths connect the strait to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The water moves in a counterclockwise circle throughout the area.

People have lived around this water for thousands of years. First Nations communities have been here for a very long time. European explorers arrived much later in the late 1700s. Spanish explorers Jose Maria Narvaez and Juan Carrasco visited in 1791. They originally gave the area a long Spanish name. In 1792, George Vancouver renamed it the Gulf of Georgia. He named it after King George III of Great Britain.

There are many interesting facts about the water and land. Texada Island is the largest island in the strait. The Fraser River provides about 80 percent of the fresh water. The Ballenas Basin is a deep spot north of Nanaimo. A big earthquake happened here on June 23, 1946. This event caused the bottom of Deep Bay to sink. Today, many people visit to go scuba diving. It is also a great place for whale watching.

Many towns and cities sit along the edges of the water. On the west, you can find Nanaimo and Courtenay. On the east, cities like Greater Vancouver are located. BC Ferries helps people travel between the mainland and Vancouver Island. They run busy routes like Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. Some people call this whole region the Salish Sea. This name was made official by Canada and the United States in 2009. It describes the strait along with other nearby waters.

The Strait of Georgia is a large arm of the Salish Sea.

It sits between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. The water also reaches the northwestern mainland coast of Washington in the United States. This body of water is a major navigation channel on the west coast of North America. It serves as the southern entrance to the Inside Passage, which is an intracoastal route. The presence of the port of Vancouver makes this a very busy area for ships.

Geography defines the boundaries and shape of the strait. The United States Geological Survey sets the southern boundary with a specific line. This line runs from East Point on Saturna Island to Patos Island and Sucia Island. It continues to Matia Island and ends at Point Midgley on Lummi Island. These points touch the northern edges of Rosario Strait and Boundary Pass. These channels lead south toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In the north, the Discovery Islands mark the end of the strait. The Discovery Passage is the main channel connecting it to Johnstone Strait.

Water moves through the strait in a specific way. The water circulates in a generally counterclockwise direction. The strait has a mean depth of 210 meters. It also has an average surface area of 8,214 square kilometers. The Ballenas Basin sits in the center of the strait. This basin reaches a maximum depth of approximately 350 meters north of Nanaimo. Freshwater also plays a huge role in this environment. The Fraser River accounts for roughly 80 percent of the freshwater entering the strait.

Many islands are scattered throughout these waters. Texada Island is the largest island by far, covering 700 square kilometers. Other major islands include Nelson Island and Denman Island. You can also find Lasqueti Island and Hornby Island here. The term "Gulf of Georgia" is sometimes used to describe this area. This term can include the inter-insular straits and channels of the Gulf Islands. It might also refer to communities on the shore of southern Vancouver Island.

History shows how different people have named and explored this region. First Nations communities have surrounded the strait for thousands of years. European exploration began in 1791 with Captain Jose Maria Narvaez and Pilot Juan Carrasco. They were from Spain. At that time, Francisco de Eliza named it "Gran Canal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera." In 1792, George Vancouver of Great Britain renamed it the Gulf of Georgia. He named it for King George III. Vancouver also named nearby mainland areas New Georgia, New Hanover, and New Bremen.

Natural and human activity defines the modern strait. The region experienced a major Vancouver Island earthquake on June 23, 1946. This event caused the bottom of Deep Bay to sink between 0.5 and 1 meter. Today, the strait is a premier location for scuba diving and whale watching.

Many cities sit along its shores. On the western shore, you can find Nanaimo, Courtenay, and Comox. On the eastern shore, there is Greater Vancouver and Powell River. Transportation is vital for the people living here. BC Ferries operates busy routes between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. They also run routes between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo.

There is also a growing connection to the name Salish Sea. In March 2008, the Chemainus First Nation proposed this new name. This idea eventually led to official changes in both countries. The name Salish Sea is used as a collective term. It includes the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Washington state Board of Geographic Names approved this in 2009. Canada officially approved the name in 2010. This name helps describe the entire connected system of waters.