Nanaimo Harbourfront (from Gabriola ferry)
Oyster shells at the Brickyard
Mudge Island across the channel
The major Gulf Islands include Salt Spring, Mayne, Galiano, Pender, Gabriola and Saturna Islands. Situated in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia.
Some interesting facts about the Gulf Islands:
The 13 major Gulf Islands have a population of 23,000 residents with about 25,000 people living on all the islands.
Salt Spring Island has the largest population of the Gulf Islands with 10,500 year-round residents.
British Columbia's Gulf Islands are comprised of 13 major islands and about 450 smaller islands.
Click image above for larger view
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Pender Islands (North and South Pender Islands are joined by a one-lane bridge) are home to artifacts first discovered in 1957, tracing First Nations' settlement back 5,000 years.
More than 50 petroglyphs can be found at Petroglyph Park on Gabriola Island. The origins of the ancient carvings are unknown.
About 44 percent of Saturna Island's 31 square kilometres are protected by the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, leaving the rest of the island to the 350 residents.
Galiano Island's 1,100 residents rely on an average annual rainfall of only 711
millimetres for their drinking water.