Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is a national park reserve in British Columbia, Canada. Officially established in 2003, it consists of land on 15 islands and many islets and reefs in the Strait of Georgia, a narrow waterway between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia.
Lying near the urban areas of Vancouver and Victoria, the Gulf Islands are a popular marine recreation area. Visitors come to the park for such activities as boating, camping, hiking, and picnicking. Ferry routes connect the larger Gulf Islands with Vancouver Island and mainland Canada. Some islands can be reached only by private boats, kayaks, or water taxis.
The passage of glaciers thousands of years ago created the landscape of the Gulf Islands. In general, the terrain is hilly and rocky, with high sandstone ridges and narrow valleys. Forests of arbutus, cedar, fir, and oak trees cover much of the reserve. In some areas, forests grow alongside open wildflower meadows. The islands have warm, dry summers and mild winters with rare snowfalls. The nutrient-rich waters that surround the Gulf Islands support killer whales, otters, porpoises, sea lions, seals, and hundreds of thousands of seabirds and shorebirds.
