Saturna Island

Saturna Island

Saturna Island is a mountainous island, about 31 km² in size, in the southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia. It is situated approximately midway between the Lower Mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island, and is the most easterly of the Gulf Islands. It is surrounded on three sides by the Canada/USA border. To the north is Point Roberts, Washington State, and to the east and south are the San Juan Islands. Saturna has a permanent population of around 350, although that number increases significantly during the busy summer season. Approximately half of the island is in the new Gulf Islands National Park Reserve that was formed in 2003 from 2 provincial parks, an Ecological Reserve, and other Crown land (i.e. land owned by the state).

History

The island was first used by indigenous people who called the island "Long Nose," due to the island's long north-eastern tapering shoreline that ends at East Point. The name Saturna comes from the ship "Santa Saturnina", commanded by Captain José María Narváez and Pilot Juan Carrasco in 1791. The first European settlers came in the 1800s, but the island was slower to develop than the neighbouring Gulf Islands due to its relative isolation and rugged topography.

Events

*January: Robbie Burns Night Dinner
*May: Spring Pig BBQ
*July: Canada Day Lamb Barbecue
*September: Vineyard Harvest Festival
*November: Fall Pig BBQ

Parks and beaches

Many beaches also grace Saturna Island. The sandy Thomson Park provides a perfect place to swim and relax. Russell Reef, off East Point Road, showcases a natural swimming hole. And at East Point Regional Park, the shoreline ranges from flat and shelly to sloping and rocky. Mount Warburton Pike, Saturna's highest point, and the nearby Brown Ridge Trail offer spectacular views of the Gulf Islands. Another short hike leads you to picturesque Narvaez Bay, where there is a perfect view of the San Juan Islands.

External links

* [http://www.saturnatourism.com/ Saturna Island Tourism Association]
* [http://www.bcferries.com/ BC Ferries - Ferry Service to Saturna]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Saturna Island — Blick auf die Nachbarinseln Gewässer Strait of Georgia, (Pazifischer Ozean) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Saturna, British Columbia — Saturna is an unincorporated locality on Saturna Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. Saturna is the location of the island s BC Ferries terminal.References*BCGNIS|17151 …   Wikipedia

  • Gabriola Island — Infobox Settlement official name = Gabriola Island other name = native name = nickname = settlement type = Island motto = imagesize = image caption = Beach at Descanso Bay flag size = image seal size = image shield = shield size = city logo =… …   Wikipedia

  • Pender Island — (Norden) Gewässer Strait of Georgia, (Pazifischer Ozean) Inselgruppe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mayne Island — Vorlage:Infobox Insel/Wartung/Höhe fehlt Mayne Island Anlegestelle der BC Ferries Gewässer Pazifi …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pender Island —   Island   A view of North Pender Island s shoreline …   Wikipedia

  • Galiano Island — Swiikw Hul q umín um   Island   View from Mount Galiano …   Wikipedia

  • Mayne Island —   Island   Village Bay, Mayne Island s ferry dock …   Wikipedia

  • Denman Island — Geography Location Strait of Georgia Coordinates 49°33′N 124°48′W …   Wikipedia

  • Discovery Island (British Columbia) — This article is about the small island near Victoria, B.C.. For other islands with a similar name, see Discovery Island (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”