Burrard Peninsula

Geographical location

The Burrard Peninsula (English Burrard Peninsula ) is a peninsula in the far southwest of the Lower Mainland's, in the Province of British Columbia. The peninsula is now largely covered by the city of Vancouver and Burnaby.

At the time of European discovery as densely wooded, the peninsula was changed from the mid-19th century to a now almost entirely built-up urban landscape. The largest preserved green areas are the Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Point Grey and Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver, as well as several large parks in Burnaby.

The original name of the First Nations of the peninsula was Ulksen or Ulxen.

Location

The peninsula extends to the west into the Strait of Georgia, between the fjord Burrard Inlet to the north and the estuary of the Fraser River to the south. The Fraser River to the south separates from both its middle reaches of the mainland as well as at its mouth Lulu Iceland and Iceland Sea from the peninsula. The isthmus is located in the plain between the eastern end of Burrard Inlet and the Coquitlam River, a tributary of the Fraser River.

On the Burrard Peninsula are from west to east, the following towns or settlements:

• The University Endowment Lands
• Vancouver,
• Burnaby,
• New Westminster,
• Port Moody,
• Coquitlam and
• Port Coquitlam.

From Port Moody only the southern districts are located on the peninsula. About the membership from Port Coquitlam to the peninsula are conflicting views. Certainly the city, however, would be the most eastern point of the peninsula. The western tip of the peninsula is known as the Point Grey, there is the University of British Columbia, which is a separate settlement area.

Geology

The peninsula is basically crossed by a slightly wavy surface and with numerous small lakes. The coastline is characterized by rocky and rugged shores. Larger cuts or coves can be found along the peninsula more. Highest point of the peninsula is the Burnaby Mountain, 370 meters above sea level. South of the Peninsula can be found with Mount Work ( 449 m altitude ) and the Jocelyn Hill ( 434 m) two more mountains.

Flora and Fauna

Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, the peninsula is mainly associated with the Coastal Douglas Fir zone. Same biogeoklimatische zones are characterized by a respective same climate and the same or similar biological and geological conditions. This results in the respective zones, a similar inventory of plants and animals.

By basically closed settlement and intensive forestry use in the early European settlement phases grow larger trees and plants only in the protected areas to any significant extent.

Climate

Due to the usually prevailing wind directions and the Kuroshio Current weather on the peninsula is mild but very rainy. The temperatures in winter to about 46 days just below freezing, but at only two days below -10 ° C. In summer, the temperature therefor rarely above 22 ° C. In average, there are 166 rainy days and the wettest months are November and December.

History

The earliest inhabitants were different, mainly the coastal Salish associated groups of First Nations. Originally settled here the Squamish and Musqueam and other groups. The first Europeans, mostly fur traders, the area reached around 1800. Simon Fraser passed through the area in 1808. Increased European colonization, caused by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush ( 1858-1860 ) and the Cariboo Gold Rush ( 1861-1862 ) began However, until the 1860s. The natural harbors on the Burrard Inlet and the construction of the transcontinental railway line made ​​for a further colonization.

Population

On the Burrard Peninsula approximately 1,800,000 people. An accurate determination of the population is not possible because there is no exact definition of the boundary occurs to the west.

Traffic

The peninsula is crossed by several major traffic routes. It crosses Highway 99, the peninsula in the north-south direction, while the Highway 7 passes through the area in the east-west direction. The Highway 7 runs in parts congruent with the Highway 1, as a subsection of the Trans-Canada Highway. In addition, there are further small highways, such as the Highway 7A, as connecting highways added

On the peninsula and surrounding waters, there are several small airports or helicopter water airports. The most important regional airport, the Vancouver International Airport, however, is on the neighboring island of Iceland Sea.

Since the transport company Translink is responsible for almost all aspects of public transportation in Metro Vancouver and thus on the Burrard Peninsula since 1998, she organized the passengers by buses and the SkyTrain. In addition, operating on the peninsula suburban trains. Long-distance rail traffic is mainly offered by VIA Rail from Pacific Central Station. Various train services, which are offered by other companies, in addition operate from Waterfront Station.

Since on the peninsula, both on Burrard Inlet as the Fraser River, are different terminals of the Port Metro Vancouver, operate alongside the two Canadian railroads, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway rail freight on the peninsula. These different marshalling yards of different size are located on the peninsula. The large marshalling yards are a little further inland.