Vancouver

Vancouver is a port city in British Columbia, Canada, sitting between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, with glass towers reflecting the water of English Bay and Burrard Inlet. The urban area includes several neighborhoods along the peninsula and extends across the mainland to the south and east toward forested hills.

The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887 transformed the settlement from a small lumber town into a major trading hub between Asia and North America. In the decades that followed, the harbor grew into one of the largest on the west coast while the settlement solidified its role as a gateway for immigration and commerce.

Year-round public markets draw residents who gather to buy regional produce and freshly caught seafood, while neighborhoods like Gastown and Commercial Drive maintain their own culinary traditions. Many locals take advantage of the mild coastal weather to eat outdoors, relax in parks, or walk along the waterfront paths.

The SkyTrain rapid transit system connects downtown with Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, and the international airport. An extensive bus network complements the trains and reaches most neighborhoods as well as surrounding communities.

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC houses an extensive collection of Northwest Coast First Nations artifacts, including totem poles and ceremonial objects. These pieces come from coastal communities along the Pacific and document centuries-old art forms and religious practices.

Location: Metro Vancouver Regional District

Inception: 1886

Founders: William Cornelius Van Horne

Elevation above the sea: 2 m

Shares border with: West Vancouver, Burnaby, University Endowment Lands, Richmond, North Vancouver

Website: https://vancouver.ca

GPS coordinates: 49.26083,-123.11389

Latest update: December 14, 2025 22:58