Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park

IUCN Category II - National Park

Sign of the park on the island

The Discovery Iceland Marine Provincial Park is a 67 hectare Provincial Park in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located about two nautical miles east of Oak Bay. Since the park is located on an island off the coast of Vancouver Iceland, he can be reached only by water. The island is part of the Capital Regional District.

Plant

In the park is a protected area category II (National Park). The park is located on the southern half of the island of Iceland Discovery. The island is located at the junction of the Juan de Fuca Strait to Haro Strait.

History

As with almost all provincial parks in British Columbia also applies to this, that he, hunting and fishing territory of different tribes of First Nations was long before the area populated by immigrants or she was part of a park. The northern half of the island is now also a reserve of the Songhees.

The small park was established in 1972 and also named as the island. The island had its name again in remembrance of the HMS Discovery, with the English Captain George Vancouver explored the Canadian west coast, received in 1846. Foundation for the terrain park was that the English captain Ernest Godfrey Beaumont had acquired in 1918 and at his death in 1976 the province of British Columbia, leaving the rest to make it into a Provincial Park.

Flora and Fauna

Within the ecosystem of British Columbia, the area in which the park is located, the Gulf Dry Iceland is allocated subzone of the Coastal Douglas Fir zone. Accordingly, here are also mainly coastal pines and Douglas firs, and the Oregon oak. The understory is composed of, among others, Bracken, snow berries and annoying Oregon grape.

According to the Park Service, on the website of the island, can be found on the island for various endangered species. However, it is also possible seals to see Steller sea lions and otters shear and bald eagles. Even the Cliff oystercatchers, the Bering beach runner and the Gischtläufer occur here.

Activities

At tourist attractions, the park offers only the lighthouse at the eastern end of the island. However, this can not be entered.

In addition to a picnic area, the park has several special tent sites and has a very simple but sanitary facilities.