Malahat, British Columbia

Malahat or The Malahat refers to a First Nations people and the unincorporated locality, highway, and passenger train named after them on southern Vancouver Island. "The Malahat", meaning primarily the highway but also the locality, is located on the western side of Saanich Inlet on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, and the Indian reserve of the Malahat First Nation is in the vicinity.

Unincorporated district

Malahat is an unincorporated area in the Cowichan Valley, with municipal-type services delivered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District. The locality has no community nexus. Rather, there are a small number of scattered commercial establishments mainly catering to drivers travelling along Highway 1. A steep and rugged terrain has in the past precluded any significant residential development but new subdivisions are being built around the northern end of the area around the old Bamberton cement works and in the area adjoining Elkington Forest. Most area residents live in isolated homes located off the highway. In this context "Malahat" primarily refers to the Canada Post delivery district.

Highway and region

The Malahat is the term commonly applied to the Malahat Drive (or, as it is more frequently known locally, "The Malahat Highway") — a 25 km (15.5 mi) portion of Highway 1 running along the west side of Saanich Inlet — and to the region surrounding it. The Malahat begins in Goldstream Provincial Park, just north of Langford, and takes a famously winding and steep route over the 352 m (1,155 ft) Malahat Summit to end just south of Mill Bay. The only major, paved route linking Greater Victoria to the rest of Vancouver Island, the Malahat was completed in 1911 as a single-lane gravel road, hugging the steep cliffs above Saanich Inlet. Even after becoming a major thoroughfare, its sharp and abrupt curves, and winding descent made the road notorious for traffic accidents. Many early automobiles succumbed to flat tires, broken axles and ruined engines. In recent decades, the highway has been greatly improved, widened, and straightened though concerns for traffic safety and highway closures persist. The route is also famous for its scenic vistas of the Saanich Peninsula and Saltspring Island, and a number of rest stops have been developed to allow travellers to stop and enjoy the views. Off the highway, the Malahat area consists of rugged, steep slopes of largely second growth forest. Douglas-fir, arbutus, hemlock, and western red cedar predominate.

Train

Via Rail Canada runs the daily Victoria – Courtenay train between Victoria and Courtenay over the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway line.

First Nations people

The Malahat First Nation is a Hulquminum-speaking group of Coast Salish who trace their origins to the area along the west coast of the Saanich Inlet. It is from them that the area and the highway derive their name.

See also

• HMCS Malahat
• Malahat-Juan de Fuca
• Pacific Wilderness Railway

External links

• Some good photographs of the highway and surrounding views
• Malahat Highway Improvement Open House Presentation

Coordinates: 48°32′N 123°33′W / 48.533°N 123.55°W / 48.533; -123.55