View source for Strait of Georgia

{{Short description|Waterway between Vancouver Island and mainland North America}}
{{redirect|Georgia Strait|the newspaper|The Georgia Straight}}
{{distinguish|George Strait}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Strait of Georgia
| native_name        = 
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| other_name         = 
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| caption            = The Strait of Georgia with sediment from the [[Fraser River]] clearly visible.
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| location           = [[British Columbia]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
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| coordinates        = {{coord|49|17|39|N|123|48|26|W|type:waterbody_scale:1500000|display=it}}
| type               = 
| etymology          = 
| part_of            = [[Salish Sea]]
| inflow             = 
| rivers             = [[Fraser River]], [[Squamish River]]
| outflow            = 
| oceans             = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| catchment          = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| basin_countries    = [[Canada]] and [[United States]]
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| date-built         = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water -->
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| width              = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| area               = {{convert|6800|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| depth              = {{convert|156|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| max-depth          = {{convert|420|m|ft|abbr=on}} <ref name=NOAA-NWFSC>[http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/techmemos/tm44/environment.htm Environmental History and Features of Puget Sound] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513125424/http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/techmemos/tm44/environment.htm |date=2009-05-13 }}, NOAA-NWFSC</ref>
| volume             = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| residence_time     = 160 days<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pawlowicz|first1=Rich|last2=Riche|first2=Olivier|last3=Halverson|first3=Mark|date=2007|title=The circulation and residence time of the strait of Georgia using a simple mixing‐box approach|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3137/ao.450401|journal=Atmosphere-Ocean|language=en|volume=45|issue=4|pages=173–193|doi=10.3137/ao.450401|s2cid=129018974|issn=0705-5900|doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
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| frozen             = 
| islands            = 
| islands_category   = 
| sections           = [[Malaspina Strait]]
| trenches           = 
| benches            = 
| cities             = [[Vancouver]], [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]], [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]], [[Delta, British Columbia|Delta]], [[Nanaimo]], [[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]]
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[[File:Looking across the Straight of Georgia from Iona Island.jpg|thumb|Looking west across the Straight from Iona Park in Richmond towards Gabriola and Valdes Islands.]]
The '''Strait of Georgia''' ({{langx|fr|Détroit de Géorgie}}) or the '''Georgia Strait'''<ref>[https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/6050.html BCGNIS "Georgia Strait"] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070815193807/http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=6050 |date=2007-08-15}}</ref>  is an arm of the [[Salish Sea]] between [[Vancouver Island]] and the extreme southwestern mainland coast of [[British Columbia]], Canada, and the extreme northwestern mainland coast of [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. It is approximately {{convert|240|km|mi}} long and varies in width from {{convert|20|to|58|km|mi}}.<ref name=noaa>[http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/techmemos/tm44/environment.htm Environmental History and Features of Puget Sound] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513125424/http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/techmemos/tm44/environment.htm |date=2009-05-13 }}, NOAA-NWFSC</ref> Along with the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] and [[Puget Sound]], it is a constituent part of the [[Salish Sea]].

Archipelagos and narrow channels mark each end of the Strait of Georgia, the [[Gulf Islands]] and [[San Juan Islands]] in the south, and the [[Discovery Islands]] in the north. The main channels to the south are [[Boundary Pass]], [[Haro Strait]] and [[Rosario Strait]], which connect the Strait of Georgia to the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]. In the north, [[Discovery Passage]] is the main channel connecting the Strait of Georgia to [[Johnstone Strait]].  The strait is a major navigation channel on the west coast of [[North America]], owing to the presence of the port of [[Vancouver]], and also due to its role as the southern entrance to the Intracoastal route known as the [[Inside Passage]].

== Geography ==
The [[United States Geological Survey]] defines the southern boundary of the Strait of Georgia as a line running from East Point on [[Saturna Island]] to [[Patos Island]], [[Sucia Island]], and [[Matia Island]], then to Point Midgley on [[Lummi Island]]. This line touches  the northern edges of [[Rosario Strait]], which leads south to the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]], and [[Boundary Pass]], which leads south to [[Haro Strait]] and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.<ref>{{Cite GNIS|1509730|Strait of Georgia}}</ref>

The Strait of Georgia has a mean depth of {{convert|156|m|ft|abbr=on}} and average surface area of {{convert|6800|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}. The Ballenas Basin in the centre of the strait reaches a maximum depth of {{convert|420|m|ft|abbr=on}} approximately {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Nanaimo]].<ref name=NOAA-NWFSC/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Picard|first=K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lL4jrthOppgC&q=Ballenas+Basin+-california+-mexico&pg=PA2|title=Geological Survey of Canada, Current Research (Online) no. 2006-A5|date=2006|publisher=Natural Resources Canada|isbn=978-0-662-43483-2|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Fraser River]] accounts for roughly 80 percent of the freshwater entering the strait. Water circulates in the strait in a generally counterclockwise direction.<ref name=NOAA-NWFSC/>

===Major islands===
The strait contains several major islands, the largest by far being [[Texada Island]] at {{convert|300.45|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}. Other major islands include [[Nelson Island (British Columbia)|Nelson Island]], [[Denman Island]], [[Lasqueti Island]], and [[Hornby Island]].

==="Gulf of Georgia"===
The term "Gulf of Georgia" includes waters other than the Georgia Strait proper, such as the inter-insular straits and channels of the [[Gulf Islands]], and may refer to communities on the shore of southern Vancouver Island. As defined by [[George Vancouver]] in 1792, the Gulf of Georgia included all the inland waters beyond the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, including [[Puget Sound]], [[Bellingham Bay]], the waters around the [[San Juan Islands]], as well as the Strait of Georgia.<ref>{{cite book |last= Roberts |first= John E. |title= A Discovery Journal: George Vancouver's First Survey Season - 1792 |year= 2005 |publisher= Trafford Publishing |isbn= 978-1-4120-7097-3 |pages= 72}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Strait of Georgia.jpg|thumb|250px|Georgia Strait in the morning]]
First Nations communities have surrounded the Strait of Georgia for thousands of years. The first European exploration of the area was undertaken by Captain [[Jose Maria Narvaez]] and Pilot [[Juan Carrasco (explorer)|Juan Carrasco]] of [[Spain]] in 1791. At this time [[Francisco de Eliza]] gave the strait the name "Gran Canal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario la Marinera."

In 1792, it was renamed for [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]]<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n135 136]}}</ref> as the "Gulf of Georgia" by [[George Vancouver]] of [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]], during [[Vancouver Expedition|his extensive expedition]] along the west coast of [[North America]]. Vancouver designated the mainland in this region as New Georgia and areas farther north as New Hanover and New Bremen.

The [[1946 Vancouver Island earthquake|June 23, 1946, Vancouver Island earthquake]] shocked the Strait of Georgia region, causing the bottom of [[Deep Bay, British Columbia|Deep Bay]] to sink between {{convert|3|and|26|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

The two busiest routes of the [[BC Ferries]] system cross the strait, between [[Tsawwassen, British Columbia|Tsawwassen]] (south of Vancouver) and [[Swartz Bay]] (near [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]) and between [[Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia|Horseshoe Bay]] (north of Vancouver) and [[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo]].

The Strait of Georgia is known as a premier [[scuba diving]] and [[whale watching]] location.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

In 1967, the Georgia Strait inspired the name of Vancouver's alternative newspaper, ''[[The Georgia Straight]]'', which has been published continuously since.

==Cities==
Towns and cities on the strait include [[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]], [[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]], [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]], [[Qualicum Beach, British Columbia|Qualicum Beach]], [[Parksville, British Columbia|Parksville]], [[Lantzville, British Columbia|Lantzville]], and [[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo]] on the western shore, as well as [[Powell River, British Columbia|Powell River]], Sechelt, [[Gibsons, British Columbia|Gibsons]], and Greater Vancouver on the east.
[[File:Nanaimo from Georgia Strait (3923152907).jpg|thumb|Nanaimo from Georgia Strait]]
Across the border in the [[United States]], [[Bellingham, Washington]] and other communities also lie on the eastern shore. Other settlements on Vancouver Island (such as [[Duncan, British Columbia|Duncan]]) and the mainland are separated from Georgia Strait itself by islands and lesser straits but are often spoken of as being in the Strait of Georgia region.

== Transportation ==
{{see also|Vancouver Island fixed link}}
[[BC Ferries]] operates ferry services connecting [[Vancouver Island]] with the mainland. Notable lines include [[Duke Point, British Columbia|Duke Point]]-[[Tsawwassen ferry terminal|Tsawwassen]], [[Departure Bay]]-[[Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver|Horseshoe Bay]], and [[Comox, British Columbia|Little River]]-[[Powell River, British Columbia|Westview]]. Minor ferry operators and [[water taxi]]s provide service to minor islands dotting the strait.

==Salish Sea==
[[File:Strait of Georgia Vancouver.jpg|thumb|300px|Sundown over the strait from the ferry]]{{Main|Salish Sea}}
{{see also|List of Fishes of the Salish Sea}}
In March 2008, the [[Chemainus First Nation]] proposed renaming the strait the "[[Salish Sea]]", an idea that reportedly met with approval by B.C.'s Aboriginal Relations Minister [[Mike de Jong]], who pledged to put it before the [[Executive Council of British Columbia|B.C. cabinet]] for discussion. Making the name "Salish Sea" official required a formal application to the [[Geographical Names Board of Canada]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Strait of Georgia could be renamed the Salish Sea |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/strait-of-georgia-could-be-renamed-salish-sea-1.773346 |work=Canadian Press |publisher=CBC.ca |date=2008-03-09 |access-date=2008-03-10 }}</ref> A parallel American movement promoting the name had a different definition, combining of the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] and [[Puget Sound]] as well as the Strait of Georgia and related waters under the name Salish Sea. This latter definition was made official in 2009 by geographic boards of Canada and the United States.

In October 2009, the Washington state Board of Geographic Names approved the Salish Sea toponym, not to replace the names of the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and Strait of Juan de Fuca, but instead as a collective term for all three.<ref name=adoption>{{cite web | date =2009-10-30 | url =http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/News/Pages/nr09_177.aspx | title =STATE BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES APPROVES 'SALISH SEA' | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131030002600/http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/News/Pages/nr09_177.aspx | archive-date =2013-10-30 }}</ref> The British Columbia Geographical Names Office passed a resolution recommending that the name only be adopted by the [[Geographical Names Board of Canada]] should its US counterpart approve the name change.<ref name="adoption"/><ref>[https://www.straight.com/article-268225/washington-state-adopts-salish-sea-name-body-water-including-strait-georgia ''Washington state adopts “Salish Sea” name for body of water including Strait of Georgia'', Carlito Pablo, ''Georgia Straight'', October 30, 2009]</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Berger|first=Knute|author-link=Knute Berger|title=Smooth Sailing for the Salish Sea?|date=October 20, 2009|work=[[Crosscut.com|Crosscut]]|url=http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19058/|access-date=August 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110926221109/http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19058/|archive-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref> The [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] approved the name on November 12, 2009<ref>{{cite news|last=Berger|first=Knute|author-link=Knute Berger|title=U.S. approves Salish Sea name|date=November 12, 2009|work=[[Crosscut.com|Crosscut]]|url=http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19183/|access-date=August 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110814223804/http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19183/|archive-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> and Canada approved it in 2010.

==Counties and regional districts facing the Strait==
*[[British Columbia]]
** [[Capital Regional District]]
** [[Comox Valley Regional District]]
** [[Cowichan Valley Regional District]]
** [[Metro Vancouver Regional District]]
** [[Regional District of Nanaimo|Nanaimo Regional District]]
** [[qathet Regional District]]
** [[Strathcona Regional District]]
** [[Sunshine Coast Regional District]]
* [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
** [[San Juan County, Washington|San Juan County]]
** [[Whatcom County, Washington|Whatcom County]]

==See also==
* [[Howe Sound]]
* [[Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)|Sunshine Coast]]
* [[Burrard Peninsula]]
* [[Georgia Basin]]
* [[Royal eponyms in Canada]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Levings, C., Kieser, D., Jamieson, G.S., & Dudas, S. (2002). "Marine and estuarine alien species in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia." In R. Claudi, P. Nantel, & E. Muckle-Jeffs (Eds.), ''Alien invaders in Canada’s waters, wetlands, and forests'' (pp.&nbsp;111–132). Ottawa: Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2016-08-03 from [[hdl:10613/2904|http://hdl.handle.net/10613/2904]]

==External links==
{{commons category inline|Strait of Georgia}}
{{Collier's Poster|Georgia, Gulf of|Strait of Georgia}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040803112538/http://www.georgiastrait.org/whogeorgia.php Map and information] from the [http://www.georgiastrait.org Georgia Strait Alliance]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100821203226/http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/Publications/reports_and_studies/fixed_link/fixed_link.htm A Potential Fixed Link to Vancouver Island] - report from the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=49.368066,-123.818665&spn=1.250194,2.576294 Google Satellite Image, Accessed August 7, 2006]

{{British Columbia hydrography}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strait Of Georgia}}
[[Category:Strait of Georgia| ]]
[[Category:Landforms of Vancouver]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Vancouver Island]]
[[Category:South Coast of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Landforms of San Juan County, Washington]]
[[Category:Seas of the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Seas of Canada]]
[[Category:Seas of North America]]
[[Category:Seas of the United States]]