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