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