Gulf Islands, Island group in British Columbia, Canada.
The Gulf Islands are an island group in British Columbia, Canada, spread across the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland. The group includes more than three hundred forested islands, some permanently inhabited and others used only by seals and seabirds.
Indigenous peoples lived here for thousands of years before European settlers arrived in the nineteenth century. The newcomers established farms and fishing communities that continue to shape life on the inhabited islands today.
The islands carry names like Saltspring, Mayne and Pender that recall early settlers and natural features. Many residents maintain vegetable gardens and sell their harvest at farmers markets along the harbour roads.
A ferry connects the larger islands to Vancouver Island and the mainland, with journeys often taking several hours. Smaller islands are only reachable by private boat or charter flight, so many visitors focus on the more accessible places.
The mild influence of the Pacific allows some farmers to grow unusual plants like olive trees and banana plants. These crops thrive thanks to protected microclimates, even though snow can fall on other parts of the islands in winter.
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