title: Entrance Island (British Columbia)
text: # Entrance Island (British Columbia)
  
  Entrance Island is a small rocky island in the Strait of Georgia, 841 metres (2,759 ft) due north of Gabriola Island. Marine mammals such as harbour seals and Steller's sea lions use it as a haul-out.
  
  ## Entrance Island Lighthouse
  
  The Entrance Island Lighthouse is a manned light station. It was built in 1875 to guide ships into Nanaimo harbour from the Strait of Georgia, and is easily seen from the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay ferry. The Tsawwassen to Duke Point ferry passes right by it.
  
  ### Oceanographic research
  
  The Entrance Island Lighthouse is one of 12 lighthouses part of the British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program, collecting coastal water temperature and salinity measurements everyday since 1936. Their data show an increase in coastal water temperatures of 0.15 °C per decade. This trend is believed to be a result of anthropogenic climate change.
  
  