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Park geography

A detailed assessment of the park's spatial extent, terrain, and coastal geography

Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, British Columbia

Examine the structured geographic data for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in British Columbia. This profile documents the park's 36 square kilometer area, maximum 400 meter elevation, and distinct coastal, marine, and forest landscape classifications within the Mediterranean climate zone.

Related tags

Mediterranean ClimateCoastal IslandsMarine ReserveGarry Oak WoodlandsDouglas-fir Forest

Mediterranean-climate protected islands in Canada's Strait of Georgia

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is a national park protecting a unique archipelago of islands in the Strait of Georgia off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Established in 2003 as Canada's 40th national park, it encompasses 36 square kilometres spread across 16 islands and more than 30 islets and reefs. This park holds particular significance as it represents the Strait of Georgia Lowlands natural region, the smallest and most urbanized natural region in Canada, and the only place in the country with a Mediterranean climate characterized by dry, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. The rain shadow effect from the surrounding Vancouver Island Ranges and Olympic Mountains creates this distinctive climate that supports vegetation types more commonly found much further south.

Location
Canada
Park type
National park
Established
2003
Area
36 km²
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Geography Atlas
Location overview

Coastal island and marine protected systems in British Columbia

Geographic Overview of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in Canada

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is situated within the province of British Columbia in Canada. High level geographic records track its status as a coastal, island, and marine protected area.
Countries
Canada
Regions
British Columbia
Primary location
British Columbia
Geographic setting
Coastal · Island · Marine
Boundary and coordinates

Spatial footprint and geographic dimensions across land and marine areas

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Boundary Map and Spatial Limits

Interactive mapping outlines the spatial footprint of the reserve across the archipelago. Regional measurements track calculated land and marine dimensions, spatial centers, and geographic spans.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
35.6 km²
Boundary perimeter
161.1 km
Northernmost point
48.874° N
Southernmost point
48.5603° N
Easternmost point
123.0401° W
Westernmost point
123.4327° W
Geographic centre
48.7525° N, 123.2381° W
North–south span
34.9 km
East–west span
28.9 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Elevation and terrain

Lowland relief classification and recorded coastal landforms

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Elevation Profile and Terrain Features

Recorded elevation records indicate a maximum height of four hundred meters alongside lowland relief classifications across the protected area. Structured cards detail named natural features, types, and spatial relationships within the regional topography.
Maximum elevation
400 m

Selected named natural features

Capes

Winter Point

Viewpoints

Winter Point

Straits

Plumper Sound

Bays

Ella Bay

Islands

Pine Islet

Straits

Moresby Passage

Environmental setting

Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and climate zone settings

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Environmental Classifications

Recorded landscape features and habitat types serve as complementary ways to read the physical setting of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Stored climate zone and forest cover categories connect directly to relevant atlas destinations.
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Mediterranean
Water
Water-dominated
Forest cover
Mostly forested
Seasonality
Strongly seasonal

Landscape features

Hills · Valleys · Plateau · Cliffs · Forest · Woodland · Grassland · Wetland · Marsh · Lakes · Rivers · Waterfalls · Coast · Beach · Dunes · Islands · Reefs

Habitat types

Temperate broadleaf forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Grassland · Shrubland · Wetland · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat · Coastal habitat · Marine habitat · Dune habitat

Park atlas

Trace the geographic spread of protected landscapes and marine ecosystems throughout coastal British Columbia.

Explore National Parks and Protected Areas Near Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Browse national parks and protected areas adjacent to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, revealing diverse coastal and island landscapes along British Columbia's Strait of Georgia. This geographic overview provides valuable context for comparing distinct protected-area features, tracing regional conservation efforts, and understanding the unique ecosystems across the region.
A horizontal watercolor painting depicting a soft-toned landscape with green trees, rolling hills, a calm body of water, and distant pale mountains.
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
31 km away#1 closest

East

Peace Arch Park: Mapped Geography and Protected Landscapes of the Canada and US Border

Coastal binational protected area in British Columbia

Peace Arch Park is a notable protected landscape positioned directly on the international border. This site acts as a continuous green space between Canada and the United States, offering an unusual study of territorial boundaries and coastal geography. Spanning manicured terrain and historic monument grounds, the park provides an essential vantage point for understanding land-based connectivity in the Pacific Northwest region.

Area
0.17 km²
Established
1939
Visitors
500K annual
Access
Easy access
Nature reserveBritish Columbia
About 35 km away#2 closest

South

Race Rocks Ecological Reserve: Protected Marine Landscape and Island Geography

Nature reserve in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, British Columbia

Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is a geographically distinct protected area consisting of low-lying rocky islets and surrounding high-current marine waters. Located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the reserve is recognized for its intense tidal mixing, which supports productive food webs and diverse marine mammals. This site provides a vital window into the ecological dynamics of the Pacific coast through its role as a dedicated research and conservation zone.

Area
2.27 km²
Established
1980
IUCN
Ia
Relief
Lowland
A watercolor painting showing a horizontal landscape with a green forest in the foreground and soft pink, layered rolling hills in the background.
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
44 km away#3 closest

Northwest

Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park: Heritage Infrastructure and Regional Coal Mining History

Industrial landscape and historic rail corridor in British Columbia

Located near Nanaimo, this heritage site preserves the substantial concrete remains of the Morden Colliery. The park serves as a physical archive of southern Vancouver Island industrial life, contrasting engineering landmarks with local forest environments and interpretive trails along former coal railway alignments.

Area
0.04 km²
Established
1972
Relief
Lowland
Scope
Terrestrial
A horizontal watercolor painting depicting a calm coastal inlet, surrounded by green hills, coniferous trees, and distant soft mountain silhouettes.
Marine protected areaUnited States of America
About 48 km away#4 closest

Southeast

Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: Coastal Protected Area Geography

A significant tidal estuary and marine protected landscape in Washington

This marine protected area encompasses large, shallow tidal mudflats and salt marshes within the Salish Sea. It serves as a essential hub for ecological research and conservation, framing a hybrid environment where historical diked farmlands meet protected coastal terrain. The reserve offers deep insight into the regional geography of Washington, detailing how tidal processes and human history have shaped this productive Pacific Northwest estuarine landscape.

Area
32 km²
Established
1980
Relief
Lowland
Access
Easy access
A minimalist watercolor illustration showing rolling hills in the background and soft foliage in the foreground on a white background.
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 50 km away#5 closest

Northwest

Petroglyph Provincial Park: Protected Indigenous Heritage and Coastal Geography

Cultural landscape and bedrock carvings in British Columbia

Petroglyph Provincial Park preserves a remarkable concentration of ancient carvings etched into the sandstone bedrock of the Nanaimo River estuary. This protected area on Vancouver Island provides a rare look at how Indigenous traditions integrated with powerful natural features, offering a unique geographic context for studying historical rock art in the Pacific Northwest.

Area
0.02 km²
Established
1948
IUCN
III
Relief
Lowland
National parkWashington
52 km away#6 closest

South

Olympic National Park National Park: Geographic Atlas and Protected Landscape Discovery

Explore its unique Washington landscape and mapped protected areas.

Olympic National Park serves as a key protected area within Washington, offering rich opportunities for geographic exploration. This detail page provides essential context on its designation as a national park, its mapped boundaries, and its contribution to the regional geography. Understand the park's specific landscape character and its role within the atlas of protected lands, facilitating a structured approach to discovering its natural terrain and geographic significance.

Area
3,733.8 km²
Established
1938
IUCN
II
Visitors
3.7M annual
A watercolor painting showing a panoramic view of rolling mountain ranges and dense evergreen forests with a soft, misty aesthetic.
Protected landscapeWashington
58 km away#7 closest

South

Olympic National Forest: Atlas and Geographic Overview of Washington Protected Lands

Temperate rainforests, alpine ridges, and fjord shorelines

Olympic National Forest defines the outer reaches of the Olympic Mountains, featuring a massive expanse of old-growth conifers and high-precipitation temperate rainforests. This protected area connects diverse ecosystems ranging from the brackish waters of Hood Canal to rugged, snow-dusted subalpine ridges. Our detailed geographic mapping highlights the forest's role as a vital buffer and wilderness corridor within the broader Pacific Northwest landscape.

Area
2,541.89 km²
Established
1897
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 60 km away#8 closest

North

Plumper Cove Marine Provincial Park: Protected Marine Geography and Coastal Landscapes in Howe Sound

Exploring the forested trails and sheltered marine anchorages of Keats Island.

Plumper Cove Marine Provincial Park represents a vital protected landscape on the coast of British Columbia, defined by its blend of upland coastal forest and intimate, boat-accessed marine anchorages. This geography-focused profile traces the park's terrain, including its rocky shorelines, forest-covered bluffs, and the trail networks that connect visitors to the broader Howe Sound maritime environment.

Area
0.66 km²
Established
1960
IUCN
II
Relief
Upland
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Landscape and Geography Exploration

Deepen your understanding of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve by exploring its specific geographic features and protected landscape context. This park detail provides a gateway to comprehending its mapped boundaries and its significance within British Columbia's atlas of natural areas. Discover more about the regional geography and the distinct characteristics that define this protected national park.