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ABOUT VICTORIA
Victoria Facts:
Victoria became the Capital of British Columbia on April 2, 1868.
Victoria claims the mildest climate in Canada because the Pacific Ocean in this region maintains a constant temperature of 50 degrees F.
Prevailing westerly ocean winds provide a buffer to warmer summer and cooler winter temperatures. Regional mountains also provide weather protection and as a result Victoria's rainfall is the lowest on the West Coast, and consequently has the most days of sunshine.
Average Summer Temperatures: Average Winter Temperatures:
18-32 degrees C, 65-90 degrees F. 16.1 degrees C, 42 degrees F.
Annual Rainfall:
68.5 cm, 27 inches per year.
Vancouver Island Facts:
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| Total population: |
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750,000 |
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| Length (North - South): |
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460 kilometres (286 miles) - almost the length of Ireland. |
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| Width (East - West): |
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50 - 80 kilometres (31 - 50 miles). |
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| Area: |
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31,284 square kilometres (12,076 square miles). This is the largest island on the North American west coast. |
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| Length of coastline: |
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3,440 kilometres (2,136 miles). |
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| Highest mountain: |
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Mt. Golden Hinde at 2,682 metres (8,799 feet) - almost at the geographic center of Vancouver Island. Second highest is Elkhorn Mountain at 2,194 metres (7,181 feet) and then Mount Colonel Foster at 2,133 metres (7,022 feet). |
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Other Facts:
Vancouver Island is actually the top of a huge undersea mountain range. The mountain range that runs North - South on the Island is called the Beaufort Range.
Captain Vancouver was the first to circumnavigate the island (1792-1794) and prove that it actually was an island.
The English and the Spaniards vied for control of the island in the late 1700's with the English finally taking control. This is why there are many Spanish named landmarks on and around Vancouver Island.
British Columbia Facts:
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| Population: |
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3.3 million |
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| Size: |
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Canada's third largest province at 952,263 square km or 381,000 square miles. The province is nearly four times the size of Great Britain, 2.5 times larger than Japan, and larger than any American state except Alaska (BC is 1.35 times bigger than Texas!). There are only thirty nations in the world larger than British Columbia. |
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