What is Vancouver Island?
[[File:Vancouver Island, with Lasqueti Island highlighted.png|thumb|A map of Vancouver Island, showing the location of Vancouver and Victoria.]] '''Vancouver Island''' is an [[island]] that is part of the [[province]] of [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]. Its area is {{convert|31,285|km2|mi2}}. The island is in the south-western part of the province and is named after the British explorer [[George Vancouver]]. The first people to live on the island, before the [[Europe]]ans came, were the [[Nuu-chah-nulth]], the [[Salish]], and the [[Kwakiutl]]. As of 2009, over 700,000 people live here. There are no [[bridge]]s or [[tunnel]]s between Vancouver Island and the mainland. There are [[ferry|ferries]], whichcarry people and [[car]]s to and from the island. One route crosses the [[Strait of Georgia]] to the [[Tsawwassen]] [[Peninsula]],from [[road]]s go to [[Vancouver]] and other cities in Canada as part of the [[Trans-Canada Highway]]. Another ferry route crosses the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] and reaches [[Anacortes]] in the [[United States|U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] from which roads go to [[Seattle]] and other cities along the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. == Cities and towns == There are many cities and towns on Vancouver Island. The biggest is [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], the [[Capital city|capital]] of British Columbia. Other settlements on Vancouver Island include the following: * [[Lake Cowichan]] * [[Nanaimo]] * [[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]] * [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]] * Duncan * [[Crofton, British Columbia|Crofton]] * Port Alberni * Ladysmith * Chemainus * Port Hardy * Parksville * Cumberland * [[Tofino]] * Uclulet * [[Colwood, British Columbia|Colwood]] * Sidney * Qualicum Beach * Coombs * Port McNeill * Campbell River {{Regions of North America}} {{multistub|Geo|Canada}} [[Category:Islands of Canada]] [[Category:Geography of British Columbia]] [[Category:Pacific islands]]