| Savary Island is located in the northern part | | | | strait, the largest being Texada Island and |
| of the Georgia Strait and lies 144 kilometers | | | | Lasqueti Island. The strait is a major |
| (90 miles) northwest of Vancouver, Canada. It | | | | navigation channel on the west coast of North |
| is approximately 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) | | | | America, owing to the presence of the port of |
| wide and 8 kilometers (5 miles) long. It has | | | | Vancouver. The two busiest routes of the |
| a permanent population of 90. In summer the | | | | British Columbia Ferries system cross the |
| population sometimes exceeds 2,000. | | | | Strait, between Tsawwassen (south of |
| | | | Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (near Victoria) and |
| This island is composed mostly of | | | | between Horseshoe Bay (north of Vancouver) |
| unconsolidated material such as glacial till, | | | | and Nanaimo. |
| marine clay, and sand. Bedrock is exposed | | | | |
| only at the eastern end. Most of its soils | | | | While native communities have surrounded the |
| are sandy, with brown podzolic and podzol | | | | strait for thousands of years, the first |
| profile development. | | | | European to explore it was Jose Maria Narvaez |
| | | | of Spain, in 1791. It received its current |
| Common trees are Douglas-fir, western | | | | name (actually the "Gulf of Georgia" version) |
| hemlock, western red cedar, lodgepole pine, | | | | from George Vancouver of Great Britain in |
| grand fir, red alder, bigleaf maple and | | | | 1792, during his extensive expedition along |
| arbutus. A few western white pine are | | | | the west coast of North America. |
| present. A tiny population of Garry oak | | | | |
| occurs at the eastern end -- the northernmost | | | | Towns and cities on the strait include |
| natural occurrence of this species along the | | | | Courtenay/Comox, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, |
| coast. It has splendid beaches, arbutus | | | | Lantzville and Nanaimo on the western shore, |
| groves, meadows, and sand cliffs. | | | | as well as Powell River, Sechelt, Gibsons, |
| | | | and Greater Vancouver on the east. Across the |
| A popular clamming island, owing to the sandy | | | | border in the United States, Bellingham, |
| beaches, Savary was part of the Sliammon | | | | Washington and other communities also lie on |
| native nation territory. Named for an unknown | | | | the eastern shore. Other settlements on |
| person by Vancouver in 1792, Savary has | | | | Vancouver Island (such as Duncan) and the |
| continued to enter the history books. Jack | | | | mainland are separated from Georgia Strait |
| Green was an early settler who built a cabin | | | | itself by islands, or are far enough south to |
| and store. Green Point was named for him. He | | | | be considered closer to Puget Sound. |
| was eventually murdered there. By the turn of | | | | |
| the century, CPR coastal ships and Union | | | | The Strait of Georgia is also widely known as |
| Steamships called in popularizing the place. | | | | a premier scuba diving location. |
| A government wharf was built at near Green | | | | |
| Point, close to Dinner Rock and Lund. Savary | | | | A controversial idea has existed for many |
| subsequently became a favourite summer cabin | | | | years of replacing the ferry service on the |
| location. Land companies were set up and the | | | | south coast with a bridge across the Strait |
| land subdivided. The Ashworth family built | | | | of Georgia, connecting the province's Lower |
| the Royal Savary Hotel at Indian Point (later | | | | Mainland Vancouver area to Vancouver Island. |
| demolished due to fire safety concerns). | | | | Some crossing design suggestions include a |
| Roads were built and more cabins established. | | | | part floating/part submerged tunnel to allow |
| For a brief time an airstrip was operating on | | | | ship traffic to move freely. |
| the island, however it was later closed due | | | | |
| to safety concerns. The island has had | | | | Support for the construction of the bridge |
| several shipwrecks and aircraft crashes over | | | | includes arguments that a reliable link to |
| the years. | | | | Vancouver Island from mainland Canada will |
| | | | increase tourism and growth on Vancouver |
| The Strait of Georgia (also known as Georgia | | | | Island. |
| Strait and the Gulf of Georgia) is a 240 km | | | | |
| (150 mi)-long strait between Vancouver Island | | | | The opposition argue that construction of a |
| (as well as its nearby Gulf Islands) and the | | | | bridge will result in further urbanization of |
| mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, | | | | the island and that the area's environment |
| Canada. The southern end of the strait is the | | | | will be negatively affected by construction |
| intersection of Puget Sound and the Strait of | | | | and the increase in tourism. Other potential |
| Juan de Fuca, while the northern end is | | | | problems are the width and depth of the |
| Johnstone Strait. | | | | strait and the soft consistency of the strait |
| | | | floor, as well as high seismic activity in |
| Several major islands are found in the | | | | the Vancouver Island region. |