vancouver island

English - English

Definition of vancouver island in English English dictionary: an island off southwestern Canada (off the southwestern coast of British Columbia); the largest island off the west coast of North America; An island of southwest British Columbia, Canada, in the Pacific Ocean separated from the mainland by the Strait of Georgia and Queen Charlotte Strait. The Strait of Juan de Fuca flows between the southern end of the island and the coastline of northwest Washington. First sighted by Spanish explorers in 1774 and visited by Capt. James Cook in 1778, it was named in honor of Capt. George Vancouver, who circumnavigated the island in 1792. Island (pop., 2001: 705,000) off southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest island (12,079 sq mi [31,285 sq km]) on the Pacific coast of North America. It has several peaks of more than 7,000 ft (2,100 m), as well as several fine harbours. The chief city is Victoria. It was inhabited by coastal Indians for several millennia before it was visited by early Spanish and English explorers, including Capt. James Cook in 1778. It was surveyed in 1792 by George Vancouver and was held by the Hudson's Bay Co. until it was made a British crown colony in 1849. It united with British Columbia in 1866. The island's main industries include lumbering, fishing, agriculture, and tourism; {i} island off the southwestern coast of British Columbia (Canada) which does not contain the city of Vancouver

vancouver island