Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada Spring 2005 Location Gulf Islands Gulf Islands National Park Reserve was Vegetation Wildlife National Park Reserve of Canada established in 2003 as Canada’s 40th Many plant species in the Gulf Islands are at The wide variety of terrestrial and marine national park. Located in the southern the northern extreme of their range, and are habitats mean that the wildlife found in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver and not found elsewhere in Canada. Garry oak Gulf Islands is very diverse. Orcas, porpoises, Victoria, the park is 34 km2 in area, scattered and arbutus trees -- with their smooth red bark sea lions, seals and otters call the surrounding Climate over 16 islands and more than 30 islets and and evergreen leaves -- are unique to this small waters home. Eagles, falcons and turkey The Gulf Islands lie in the rain-shadow of the reefs. An additional protected zone extends area of British Columbia. The Garry oak vultures soar overhead. Hundreds of mountains of Vancouver Island and the Olympic 200 metres out into the ocean beyond the ecosystem is one of Canada’s most thousands of seabirds, shorebirds and Peninsula. The result is a Mediterranean type of low tide mark. Gulf Islands national park endangered ecosystems. The dominant waterfowl thrive on the bounty of the nutrient- climate with dry summers, moderate rainfall in the reserve represents the Strait of Georgia ecosystem of the southern Gulf Islands is rich ocean waters. On the islands, there are no winter, and more than 2 000 hours of sunshine Lowlands natural region, and is located in Douglas fir-balsam-red cedar. Most of the large predators remaining to maintain annually. Summer temperatures are usually in the the Pacific Maritime Ecozone. islands’ forests are second growth, with only ecosystem checks and balances. This is low 20ooC; winter temperatures are cooler at 5-10 C . pockets of old growth forest remaining. There causing significant alterations to the islands’ Freezing temperatures are rare. Autumn is the are also areas of open wildflower meadows ecosystems - such as occurs when an foggiest season and Spring brings the windiest and grassy hilltops, usually interspersed with a overabundance of deer eliminates the forest weather. Garry oak-abrutus-Douglas fir woodland. understorey (and the habitat it Coastal bluffs represent another sensitive provides)through over-grazing. Overall, the ecosystem, one in which plants face Gulf Islands have 15 endangered species, 10 Geology disturbance from wave action, currents, tides, threatened species and 13 species of special winds, heat, storms and salt spray, and must concern. These species vary from butterflies to The Gulf Islands are underlain by folded and sustain themselves on very thin soils. Scotch snakes, shellfish to ferns, and from bats to highly faulted sedimentary rocks. This area of broom, Himalayan blackberry and gorse are killer whales. Sharptailed snakes are just one southwestern British Columbia is seismically displacing native species in many areas of the of the endangered species currently being active, overlying a tectonic subduction zone. Gulf Islands and present a significant monitored in the national park reserve. On the islands, north-south headlands and challenge in the sustainability of the park’s high ridges of erosion-resistant ecosystems. sandstone/conglomerate are separated by Activities narrow valleys and bays underlain by more easily eroded shale. Visitors to the Gulf Islands enjoy activities such Glacial ice as much as a 1.5 km thick carved as: kayaking, boating, hiking, camping and the landscape over two glacial periods, with tidepool exploration. Cycling is popular on the ice finally receding for good 12 000 years the larger islands, with the hilly topography ago. Deposits of glacial sand and gravel form giving cyclists a good workout. Many islands Sidney Island, and striated and fluted are accessible only by vessel, giving kayakers bedrock are common throughout the islands. and boaters unique opportunities to explore Sea levels have remained the same for the last and hike more remote areas and islands. 5 000 years. Panoramic views from the top of Mount Waterburton Pike on Saturna Island or Mount Norman on South Pender Island are For more information, contact: spectacular, offering vistas of the other Gulf Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Islands and the neighbouring San Juan Islands 2220 Harbour Road Sidney, British Columbia in the United States. On clear days, the snow V8L 2P6 capped Olympic Mountains, volcanic Mount Telephone: (250) 654-4000 Baker, and the Coast ranges on bothV ancouver Fax: (250) 654-4014 Web site: www.pc.gc.ca/gulfislands Island and the mainland can be seen. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada Spring 2005 Location Gulf Islands Gulf Islands National Park Reserve was Vegetation Wildlife National Park Reserve of Canada established in 2003 as Canada’s 40th Many plant species in the Gulf Islands are at The wide variety of terrestrial and marine national park. Located in the southern the northern extreme of their range, and are habitats mean that the wildlife found in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver and not found elsewhere in Canada. Garry oak Gulf Islands is very diverse. Orcas, porpoises, Victoria, the park is 34 km2 in area, scattered and arbutus trees -- with their smooth red bark sea lions, seals and otters call the surrounding Climate over 16 islands and more than 30 islets and and evergreen leaves -- are unique to this small waters home. Eagles, falcons and turkey The Gulf Islands lie in the rain-shadow of the reefs. An additional protected zone extends area of British Columbia. The Garry oak vultures soar overhead. Hundreds of mountains of Vancouver Island and the Olympic 200 metres out into the ocean beyond the ecosystem is one of Canada’s most thousands of seabirds, shorebirds and Peninsula. The result is a Mediterranean type of low tide mark. Gulf Islands national park endangered ecosystems. The dominant waterfowl thrive on the bounty of the nutrient- climate with dry summers, moderate rainfall in the reserve represents the Strait of Georgia ecosystem of the southern Gulf Islands is rich ocean waters. On the islands, there are no winter, and more than 2 000 hours of sunshine Lowlands natural region, and is located in Douglas fir-balsam-red cedar. Most of the large predators remaining to maintain annually. Summer temperatures are usually in the the Pacific Maritime Ecozone. islands’ forests are second growth, with only ecosystem checks and balances. This is low 20ooC; winter temperatures are cooler at 5-10 C . pockets of old growth forest remaining. There causing significant alterations to the islands’ Freezing temperatures are rare. Autumn is the are also areas of open wildflower meadows ecosystems - such as occurs when an foggiest season and Spring brings the windiest and grassy hilltops, usually interspersed with a overabundance of deer eliminates the forest weather. Garry oak-abrutus-Douglas fir woodland. understorey (and the habitat it Coastal bluffs represent another sensitive provides)through over-grazing. Overall, the ecosystem, one in which plants face Gulf Islands have 15 endangered species, 10 Geology disturbance from wave action, currents, tides, threatened species and 13 species of special winds, heat, storms and salt spray, and must concern. These species vary from butterflies to The Gulf Islands are underlain by folded and sustain themselves on very thin soils. Scotch snakes, shellfish to ferns, and from bats to highly faulted sedimentary rocks. This area of broom, Himalayan blackberry and gorse are killer whales. Sharptailed snakes are just one southwestern British Columbia is seismically displacing native species in many areas of the of the endangered species currently being active, overlying a tectonic subduction zone. Gulf Islands and present a significant monitored in the national park reserve. On the islands, north-south headlands and challenge in the sustainability of the park’s high ridges of erosion-resistant ecosystems. sandstone/conglomerate are separated by Activities narrow valleys and bays underlain by more easily eroded shale. Visitors to the Gulf Islands enjoy activities such Glacial ice as much as a 1.5 km thick carved as: kayaking, boating, hiking, camping and the landscape over two glacial periods, with tidepool exploration. Cycling is popular on the ice finally receding for good 12 000 years the larger islands, with the hilly topography ago. Deposits of glacial sand and gravel form giving cyclists a good workout. Many islands Sidney Island, and striated and fluted are accessible only by vessel, giving kayakers bedrock are common throughout the islands. and boaters unique opportunities to explore Sea levels have remained the same for the last and hike more remote areas and islands. 5 000 years. Panoramic views from the top of Mount Waterburton Pike on Saturna Island or Mount Norman on South Pender Island are For more information, contact: spectacular, offering vistas of the other Gulf Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Islands and the neighbouring San Juan Islands 2220 Harbour Road Sidney, British Columbia in the United States. On clear days, the snow V8L 2P6 capped Olympic Mountains, volcanic Mount Telephone: (250) 654-4000 Baker, and the Coast ranges on bothV ancouver Fax: (250) 654-4014 Web site: www.pc.gc.ca/gulfislands Island and the mainland can be seen.