View source for British Columbia Coast

{{Short description|Coastal region of British Columbia, Canada}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = British Columbia Coast
| other_name         = {{langx|fr|Côte de la Colombie-Britannique}}
| settlement_type    = [[List of regions of Canada|Region]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
 | photo1a      = Concord Pacific Master Plan Area.jpg
 | photo2a      = Sandstone bluffs along the Vancouver Island Coast.jpg
 | photo2b      = Lax Kw'alaams.jpg
 | photo3a      = French Creek, British Columbia.jpg
 | spacing      = 1
 | size         = 280
 | foot_montage = From top, left to right: [[Vancouver]], [[Pacific Rim National Park Reserve]], [[Lax Kw'alaams]] backdropped by the [[Kitimat Ranges]], [[Qualicum Beach]] and the [[Strait of Georgia]]
 }}
| nickname           = "The Coast"
| mapframe           = no
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Canada
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[British Columbia]]
<!-- Bold: +200,000 residents; Regular: +50,000 residents -->| parts_type         = Principal cities
| p1                 = [[Vancouver]]
| p2                 = [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]]
| p3                 = [[Burnaby]]
| p4                 = [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]]
| p5                 = [[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]]
| p6                 = [[Coquitlam]]
| p7                 = [[Delta, British Columbia|Delta]]
| p8                 = [[Nanaimo]]
| p9                 = [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]
| p10                = [[Chilliwack]]
| p11                = [[Maple Ridge, British Columbia|Maple Ridge]]
| p12                = [[New Westminster]]
| p13                = [[Port Coquitlam]]
| p14                = [[North Vancouver (city)|North Vancouver]]
| area_blank1_title  = 15 Districts
| area_blank1_km2    = 244,778
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=BCStats2016>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/Census/2016Census/PopulationHousing/CensusDivisions.aspx |title=2016 British Columbia Census Total Population Results |access-date=2019-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724204618/http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/Census/2016Census/PopulationHousing/CensusDivisions.aspx |archive-date=2019-07-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| elevation_max_m    = 4019
| elevation_min_m    = 0
| elevation_max_footnotes = <br>[[Mount Waddington|Mt. Waddington]]
| elevation_min_footnotes = <br>[[Sea level]]
| population_as_of   = [[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]<!-- Do not change until the 2021 census is released -->
| population         = 3,686,900<ref name=BCPop2016>[http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/statistics/people-population-community/population/population-estimates Population Estimates – Province of British Columbia]</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 80.24
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = −08:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −07:00
| postal_code_type   = Postal code prefixes
| postal_code        = [[List of V postal codes of Canada|V]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 236|236]], [[Area code 250|250]], [[Area code 604|604]], [[Area code 672|672]], [[Area code 778|778]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| official_name      = 
}}
The '''British Columbia Coast''', popularly referred to as the '''BC Coast''' or simply the '''Coast''', is a geographic region of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[British Columbia]]. As the entire western continental coastline of Canada along the [[Pacific Ocean]] is in the province, it is synonymous with being the '''West Coast of Canada'''.

While the exact boundaries are variously defined, the region is generally defined to include the 15 [[regional district]]s that have coastline along the Pacific Ocean or [[Salish Sea]], or are part of the [[Lower Mainland]], a [[subregion]] of the British Columbia Coast. Other boundaries may exclude parts of or even entire regional districts, such as those of the aforementioned ''Lower Mainland''.

==Boundaries==
While the term ''British Columbia Coast'' has been recorded from the earliest period of non-native settlement in British Columbia, it has never been officially defined in legal terms. The term has historically been in popular usage for over a century to describe a region of the province that extends west from the [[Coast Mountains]] and [[North Cascades]]. This definition makes the term ''British Columbia Coast'' largely synonymous with the 15 regional districts that have territory in this region.

==Major subregions==
Among locals, the British Columbia Coast can further be divided into seven major subregions:
* [[Vancouver Island]]: Includes Vancouver Island, the [[Gulf Islands]], and sometimes [[Quadra Island]].
* [[Lower Mainland]]: Includes [[Greater Vancouver]], [[Fraser Valley]], and sometimes the [[Sea-to-Sky Corridor]].
* [[Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)|Sunshine Coast]]: Includes the islands and mainland coast between [[Howe Sound]] and [[Desolation Sound]].
* South Coast: Includes the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast, but excludes Vancouver Island. This subregion is closely associated with the [[Salish Sea]].
* Central Coast: Includes the islands and mainland coast between Desolation Sound and [[Cape Caution]]. This subregion is sparsely populated and is represented by the regional districts of [[Strathcona Regional District|Strathcona]] and [[Mount Waddington Regional District|Mount Waddington]]. The northern limit of this subregion is often extended northward to the [[Don Peninsula]] to include [[Central Coast Regional District]].
* North Coast: Includes the islands and mainland coast between [[Cape Caution]] and [[Portland Canal]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Fisheries and Oceans Canada|date=2013-05-14|title=North Coast Fisheries {{!}} Pacific Region {{!}} Fisheries and Oceans Canada|url=https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/index-eng.html|access-date=2020-10-06|website=www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca}}</ref> This subregion is represented by the regional districts of [[Central Coast Regional District|Central Coast]], [[Regional District of Kitimat–Stikine|Kitimat–Stikine]], and [[North Coast Regional District|North Coast]]. This subregion is closely associated with the [[Great Bear Rainforest]].
* [[Haida Gwaii]]: Includes the Haida Gwaii archipelago, which located about {{cvt|90|km}} west of the mainland North Coast.

==History==
{{main|History of British Columbia}}
Research from the 1990s has indicated that the Ice Age-era coastline of the British Columbia Coast was lower by about {{cvt|100|m}}. The effect of the sea level on the coastline was such that [[Queen Charlotte Sound (Canada)|Queen Charlotte Sound]], which is between Haida Gwaii and the northern end of Vancouver Island, was a coastal plain, as were all the straits inland from it, except for those that were mountain valleys.

Underwater [[archaeology]] has shown the presence of permanent human habitations and other activity at the {{cvt|100|m|adj=on}} contour, and the Ice Age existence of such a coastal plain has put a new light on Ice Age populations in North America as well as on the strong likelihood of this area having been the major migration route from (and perhaps to) [[Asia]].

The heavy indentation and mild climate of the British Columbia Coast have led to inevitable comparisons with the geography's predisposition to encouraging increased human settlement and movement as well as cultural foment and population growth in the Aegean, the Irish Sea/Hebrides and in the Danish Archipelago and adjoining [[Scandinavia]]n coasts.

The natural fecundity of the environment – rich in [[seafood]], [[wild game]], and greenery – combined with the ease of travel (by water) is seen in all cases (British Columbia, [[Denmark]], [[Greece]]) to have generated a dynamic and gifted civilization.  And there are comparisons to be made between the artistic and political and social level of the Pacific Northwest Peoples and those of pre-Conversion pagan Scandinavia, [[Ireland]] and Archaic-Era Greece.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

==Geography==
{{See also|Geography of British Columbia}}
The British Columbia Coast stretches from the southern tip of [[Vancouver Island]] along the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] to the [[Unincorporated area#Canada|unincorporated community]] of [[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]] at the head of [[Portland Canal]]. The aerial distance between these two points is approximately {{cvt|954|km}}. However, due to its deeply incised coastline and over 40,000 islands of varying sizes, the total length of the British Columbia Coast is over {{cvt|25725|km}}, or approximately 10% of the entire Canadian coastline. This coastal geography is shared with the neighbouring [[U.S. state]]s of [[Alaska]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>Sebert, L.M., and M. R. Munro. 1972. Dimensions and Areas of Maps of the National Topographic System of Canada. Technical Report 72-1. Ottawa: Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Surveys and Mapping Branch.</ref>

The dominant landforms are the [[Insular Mountains]] of [[Vancouver Island]] and [[Haida Gwaii]], and the [[Coast Mountains]] that stretch along the entire length of the coast. The proximity of these mountains to the coast produce [[fjords]] that rival those of [[Norway]] in length and depth. Several large Islands fill the strait between Vancouver Island and the Mainland with [[Texada Island]], [[Cortes Island]] and [[Salt Spring Island]] being the largest in size. Fjords of note include [[Burrard Inlet]], [[Burke Channel]], [[Howe Sound]], [[Jervis Inlet]], [[Desolation Sound]], [[Dean Channel]], [[Douglas Channel]], and [[Portland Inlet]].

===Climate===
The BC Coast is dominated by a moderate [[Oceanic climate#Marine west coast (Cfb)|oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Cfb) with warm summers, cool winters, and constant rainfall that peaks during the winter months. These areas enjoy the mildest winter weather in all of Canada, as temperatures rarely fall below freezing.

The southernmost region of the coast (surrounding the [[Salish Sea]]) features a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]] with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. This gradually transitions to a predominantly oceanic climate in the north along the coast and further inland into the foothills of the [[Pacific Ranges]]. Higher elevations feature a [[Oceanic climate#Subpolar variety (Cfc, Cwc)|subpolar oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Cfc) with cool summers, cold winters, and constant rainfall that peaks during the winter months. The highest elevations feature a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Dfc).

===Ecology===
[[File:Garibaldi National Park - Garibaldi Mountain.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[British Columbia mainland coastal forests|Temperate rainforest]] ecosystem in [[Garibaldi Provincial Park]]]] 
The British Columbia Coast is dominated by [[temperate rainforest]]. According to the [[Ecoregion|ecoregion system]] used by the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] (WWF), the BC Coast is part of five distinct ecoregions: [[Puget lowland forests]], [[Central Pacific coastal forests]], [[British Columbia mainland coastal forests]], [[Haida Gwaii#Environment|Haida Gwaii coastal forests]], and [[Pacific Coastal Mountain icefields and tundra]].

According to the [[Ecozones of Canada|ecozone system]] used by [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] (ECCC), the BC Coast is part of four distinct ecozones: [[Pacific Maritime Ecozone (CEC)|Pacific Coastal Mountains]], [[Pacific Maritime Ecozone (CEC)|Coastal Western Hemlock-Sitka Spruce Forests]], [[Pacific Maritime Ecozone (CEC)|Pacific and Nass Ranges]], and [[Pacific Maritime Ecozone (CEC)|Strait of Georgia/Puget Lowland]].

According to the [[Executive Council of British Columbia#Cabinet|British Columbia Ministry of Forests]], which uses an [[Biogeoclimatic zones of British Columbia|ecosystem classification system]] independent of the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]] and [[Environment and Climate Change Canada|ECCC]], the BC Coast is part of two distinct biogeoclimatic zones: [[Western Hemlock|Coastal Western Hemlock]] and [[Douglas-fir|Coastal Douglas-fir]].

==Demographics==
{{expand section|date=September 2020}}

===Regional districts===
Below are the 15 [[regional district]]s of British Columbia defined as being in the Coast region:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+British Columbia regional districts {{as of|2020|1|29|lc=yes|df=US}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/data/statistics/people-population-community/population/pop_bc_estimatesby_subprov_areas_2011_2019.xlsx |title=Municipal and sub-provincial areas population, 2011 to 2019 |publisher=Government of British Columbia |access-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129220941/https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/data/statistics/people-population-community/population/pop_bc_estimatesby_subprov_areas_2011_2019.xlsx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!Name
!Population<br>(2016)<ref name="BCPop2016"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/Census/2016Census/PopulationHousing/CensusDivisions.aspx |title=2016 British Columbia Census Total Population Results |access-date=2017-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724204618/http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/Census/2016Census/PopulationHousing/CensusDivisions.aspx |archive-date=2019-07-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!Area<br>(km<sup>2</sup>)
!Density<br>(/km<sup>2</sup>)<br>
!Head office<br>location
|-
|[[Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District|Alberni-Clayoquot]]
|{{commas|30981}}||{{commas|6588}}||{{nts|4.7}}||[[Port Alberni, British Columbia|Port Alberni]]
|-
|[[Capital Regional District|Capital]]
|{{commas|383360}}||{{commas|2340}}||{{nts|163.8}}||[[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]
|-
|[[Central Coast Regional District|Central Coast]]
|{{commas|3319}}||{{commas|24492}}||{{nts|0.14}}||[[Bella Coola, British Columbia|Bella Coola]]
|-
|[[Comox Valley Regional District|Comox Valley]]
|{{commas|66527}}||{{commas|1701}}||{{nts|39.1}}||[[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]]
|-
|[[Cowichan Valley Regional District|Cowichan Valley]]
|{{commas|83739}}||{{commas|3475}}||{{nts|24.1}}||[[Duncan, British Columbia|Duncan]]
|-
|[[Fraser Valley Regional District|Fraser Valley]]
|{{commas|295934}}||{{commas|13335}}||{{nts|22.2}}||[[Chilliwack, British Columbia|Chilliwack]]
|-
|[[Regional District of Kitimat–Stikine|Kitimat–Stikine]]
|{{commas|37367}}||{{commas|104461}}||{{nts|0.36}}||[[Terrace, British Columbia|Terrace]]
|-
|[[Metro Vancouver Regional District|Metro Vancouver]]
|{{commas|2463431}}||{{commas|2883}}||{{nts|854.5}}||[[Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]]
|-
|[[Regional District of Mount Waddington|Mount Waddington]]
|{{commas|11035}}||{{commas|20244}}||{{nts|0.55}}||[[Port McNeill, British Columbia|Port McNeill]]
|-
|[[Regional District of Nanaimo|Nanaimo]]
|{{commas|155698}}||{{commas|2038}}||{{nts|76.4}}||[[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo]]
|-
|[[North Coast Regional District|North Coast]]
|{{commas|18133}}||{{commas|19781}}||{{nts|0.92}}||[[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]]
|-
|[[qathet Regional District|qathet]]
|{{commas|20070}}||{{commas|5075}}||{{nts|4.0}}||[[Powell River, British Columbia|Powell River]]
|-
|[[Squamish-Lillooet Regional District|Squamish-Lillooet]]
|{{commas|42665}}||{{commas|16310}}||{{nts|2.6}}||[[Pemberton, British Columbia|Pemberton]]
|-
|[[Strathcona Regional District|Strathcona]]
|{{commas|44671}}||{{commas|18278}}||{{nts|2.4}}||[[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]]
|-
|[[Sunshine Coast Regional District|Sunshine Coast]]
|{{commas|29970}}||{{commas|3777}}||{{nts|7.9}}||[[Sechelt, British Columbia|Sechelt]]
|-
|}

==Culture==
[[File:Namgis Big House (9411102177).jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[ʼNamgis]] Big House and totem pole near [[Alert Bay, British Columbia|Alert Bay]]]]
{{expand section|date=September 2020}}

==Economy==
{{expand section|date=September 2020}}

===Fishing===
[[File:Herring fishing, day one.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Trawling]] for [[Pacific herring|herring]] in the [[Salish Sea]]]]
{{See also|List of canneries in British Columbia}}
The fishery of the Pacific Northwest Coast is legendary, especially for its many [[salmon]] runs and the cultures that built on top of them throughout the region.  Salmon runs have greatly diminished since pre-Contact years and the advent of commercial canning and, ultimately, depletion of stocks by high-seas fishing.

Other commercial fisheries include [[halibut]], [[herring]] and herring roe, [[sea urchin]] and other specialty [[sushi]]s, [[hake]], [[haddock]], [[cod]], crab and shellfish.

==Transportation==
===Highways===
The Coast Region of B.C is connected to the rest of B.C by various roads depending on the region.

The populous Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland is linked to the rest of the province by [[British Columbia Highway 1|Highway 1]] (Fraser Canyon Highway), [[Coquihalla Highway|Highway 5]] (Coquihalla Freeway),  [[British Columbia Highway 3|Highway 3]] (Crowsnest Highway) and [[British Columbia Highway 99|Highway 99]] (Sea to Sky Highway). The Lower Mainland is also connected to the U.S. by four highway border crossings with the [[Peace Arch Border Crossing|Peace Arch]] on [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] being the largest. Several freeways connect lower mainland communities together.

The backbone of Vancouver Island's highway network is the [[British Columbia Highway 19|Highway 19]] which along with a portion of Highway 1 forms the [[Island Highway]]. The Island highway is a mix of 4-lane freeway, 4 lane arterial highway and 2 lane highway running roughly along the east shore of Vancouver Island. Access to the west coast of Vancouver Island can be accomplished by crossing mountain passes on [[British Columbia Highway 4|Highway 4]] to [[Tofino]] and [[British Columbia Highway 28|Highway 28]] to [[Gold River, British Columbia|Gold River]]. Thousands of other roads ranging from small freeways near Victoria to logging roads exist all over the Island.

Although the Sunshine Coast is on the mainland it is connected to the highway network only by ferries. It has one route which is [[British Columbia Highway 101|Highway 101]], a narrow curvy 2 lane road split in two by a ferry crossing. [[Texada Island]], a large island off the Sunshine Coast and has its own network of highway standard roads although they are unnumbered.

Owing to the challenging topography of the British Columbia Coast, there is no north–south highway linking the coastal communities of the province between [[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]] and [[Kitimat, British Columbia|Kitimat]]. Instead, travellers utilize one of the coastal ferry lines operated by [[BC Ferries]]. The exceptions are [[Bella Coola, British Columbia|Bella Coola]] is accessible by a long largely gravel [[British Columbia Highway 20|Highway 20]] from the B.C interior over a high pass; and the towns of [[Terrace, British Columbia|Terrace]], [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]] and [[Kitimat]] which is assessed from the B.C. interior on [[British Columbia Highway 16|Highway 16]].

Haida Gwaii has an extension of [[British Columbia Highway 16|Highway 16]] on it, one of Haida Gwaii's few paved roads.
{{expand section|date=September 2020}}

===Maritime routes===
[[File:MV Northern Expedition, Nanaimo, March 6 2009(2).jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[BC Ferries]]' [[MV Northern Expedition|Northern Expedition]] sails daily along the [[Inside Passage]] route connecting [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]] and [[Port Hardy]].]]
The sheltered waterways of the British Columbia Coast form part of the [[Inside Passage]], a coastal [[Sea lane|maritime route]] along which vessels navigate to avoid the rough waters and bad weather of the open [[North Pacific]]. As such, the maritime route is heavily trafficked by [[cruise ship]]s, [[cargo ship]]s, [[Ferry|ferries]], and other marine vessels.

[[BC Ferries]], an independently managed [[State-owned enterprise|publicly owned company]], operates scheduled daily crossings between major population centres throughout the British Columbia Coast. Dozens of smaller ferries ply lesser routes within and between these regions. The [[Alaska Marine Highway]] also operates nonstop ferry service through the British Columbia Coast along its Bellingham-Ketchikan route.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alaska State Ferry Route|url=https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml|access-date=2020-09-05|website=dot.alaska.gov}}</ref>

===Ports===
The [[Port of Vancouver]] is the largest commercial shipping [[port]] in all of Canada and along the entire Pacific Ocean / Pacific coast of North America by [[metric tons]], which handles a total cargo volume of 76.5 million metric tons.<ref name=AAPA-PIS-WPR-2005>[http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%202005.xls ''"World Port Rankings – 2005"''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223354/http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%202005.xls |date=September 27, 2007 }} – Port Industry Statistics – [[American Association of Port Authorities]] (AAPA) – Updated May 1, 2007 – (Microsoft Excel *.XLS document)</ref> By the same metric, the Port of Vancouver is also the fifth largest commercial shipping port in North America.<ref name=AAPA-PIS-NAPCT-2006>[http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/PDFs/2006%5FNorth%5FAmerican%5FContainer%5FTraffic.pdf ''"North American Port Container Traffic – 2006"''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219193825/http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/PDFs/2006_North_American_Container_Traffic.pdf |date=2008-12-19 }} – Port Industry Statistics – [[American Association of Port Authorities]] (AAPA) – Updated May 14, 2007 – (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF document)</ref>

The [[Port of Prince Rupert]] possesses the deepest [[Ice-free port|ice-free]] [[natural harbour]] in North America, and the 3rd deepest natural harbour in the world.<ref>[http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=3660 Prince Rupert] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611210455/http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=3660 |date=2011-06-11 }} www.vancouverisland.com</ref> Situated at 54° North, the harbour is the northwesternmost port in North America linked to the continent's railway network. The port is the first inbound and last outbound port of call for some [[cargo ship]]s travelling between eastern Asia and western North America since it is the closest North American port to key Asian destinations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shortest sailing time to Asian markets gives Prince Rupert Port a major edge in exports |url=https://www.edc.ca/en/blog/prince-rupert-port-close-to-asian-markets.html |access-date=11 September 2019 |publisher=[[Export Development Canada]] |date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Prince Rupert Transit Time Advantage |url=https://www.cn.ca/en/repository/popups/tools/prince-rupert-transit-time-advantage/ |website=CN |publisher=[[Canadian National Railway]] |access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref>

<!--
==Major waterways==
The waterway route through these islands between [[Vancouver]] and [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]], and between [[Seattle]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]], and [[Alaska]], is known as the [[Inside Passage]].  It has played a role in [[U.S.-Canada relations]] more than once, from the [[Klondike Gold Rush]] to the [[Alaskan Salmon War|Salmon War]] of the 1990s.

Major and important waterways listed from south to north are:
{{Col-start}}
{{Col-2}}
*[[Georgia Strait]] (aka Gulf of Georgia)
*[[Sutil Channel]]
*[[Desolation Sound]]
*[[Johnstone Strait]]
**[[Robson Bight]]
*[[Discovery Passage]]
**[[Seymour Narrows]]
*[[Sutlej Channel]]
*[[Tribune Channel]]
*[[Queen Charlotte Strait]]
*[[Queen Charlotte Sound (Canada)|Queen Charlotte Sound]]
**Hakai Passage
*[[Grenville Channel]]
*[[Hecate Strait]]
*[[Dixon Entrance]]
{{Col-2}}
On Vancouver Island south to north:
*[[Saanich Inlet]]
**[[Cook Inlet]]
*[[Barclay Sound]]
*[[Alberni Inlet]]
*[[Clayoquot Sound]]
*[[Kyuquot Sound]]
*[[Nootka Sound]]
*[[Quatsino Sound]]
{{Col-end}}

==Major islands==
{{See also|List of islands of British Columbia}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Haida Gwaii<br /><small>Queen Charlotte Islands</small>
| map_image        = Queen Charlotte Islands Map.png
| map_caption      = Map of Haida Gwaii
| location         = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|53|-132|region:CA-BC_dim:300km|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      =
| total_islands    = c. 150
| major_islands    = [[Graham Island]], [[Moresby Island]]
| area_km2         = 10180
| highest_mount    = [[Mount Moresby]]
| elevation_m      = 1,164
| country          = Canada
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[British Columbia]]
| country_largest_city              = [[Queen Charlotte, British Columbia|Queen Charlotte City]]
| country_largest_city_population   = 948
| population       = 4,761 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/pop/pop/dynamic/PopulationStatistics/Query.asp?category=Health&type=HA&topic=Estimates&agegrouptype=Standard&subtype=&region=50&year=2008&agegroup=totals&gender=t&output=browser&rowsperpage=all |title=Population Estimates |publisher=bcstats.gov.be.ca |access-date=28 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722123010/http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/pop/pop/dynamic/PopulationStatistics/Query.asp?category=Health&type=HA&topic=Estimates&agegrouptype=Standard&subtype=&region=50&year=2008&agegroup=totals&gender=t&output=browser&rowsperpage=all |archive-date=22 July 2012 }}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2008
| density_km2      = 0.468
| timezone1 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
}}

===North Coast===
*[[Haida Gwaii]] (Queen Charlotte Islands)
**[[Graham Island]]
**[[Moresby Island]]
**[[Louise Island]]
**[[Lyell Island]]
**[[Kunghit Island]]
*[[Porcher Island]]
*[[Pitt Island (Canada)|Pitt Island]]
*McCauley Island
*[[Banks Island (British Columbia)|Banks Island]]
*[[Gil Island (Canada)|Gil Island]] (Douglas Channel)
*Gribbell Island (Douglas Channel)
*[[Hawkesbury Island]] (Douglas Channel)
*[[Princess Royal Island]]
*[[Aristazabal Island]]
*[[Price Island (British Columbia)|Price Island]]
*Swindle Island

===Central Coast===
*Campbell Island (village of [[Bella Bella, British Columbia|Bella Bella]])
*Denny Island (village of Bella Bella)
*[[Hunter Island (British Columbia)|Hunter Island]]
*[[King Island, British Columbia|King Island]]  (Dean Channel)
*[[Calvert Island (British Columbia)|Calvert Island]]
*Caamano Island
*[[Malcolm Island, British Columbia|Malcolm Island]] ([[Sointula, British Columbia|Sointula]])
*[[Broughton Archipelago]]
**Broughton Island
*Gilford Island [[Knight Inlet]]
*West/East Cracroft Islands [[Knight Inlet]]

===Johnstone Strait===
*Hardwicke Island [[Johnstone Strait]]
*[[Discovery Islands]]
**[[East Thurlow Island]]
**[[West Thurlow Island]]
**[[Sonora Island (British Columbia)|Sonora Island]]
**[[Maurelle Island]]
**Read Island
**Raza Island
**[[Quadra Island]]
**[[Cortes Island, British Columbia|Cortes Island]]
**[[East Redonda Island]]
**[[West Redonda Island]]
**[[Hernando Island]]
**[[Stuart Island (British Columbia)|Stuart Island]]
**[[Rendezvous Islands]]
*[[Nelson Island (British Columbia)|Nelson Island]]

===[[Vancouver Island]]===

=== Strait of Georgia ===
[[Image:PNW-straits.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The Strait of Georgia at centre, the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] below, [[Puget Sound]] at the lower right, [[Johnstone Strait]] at the extreme upper left. Sediment from the [[Fraser River]] clearly visible.]]

*Northern Gulf Islands:
**[[Savary Island]]
**[[Texada Island]]
**[[Lasqueti Island]]
**[[Hornby Island]]
**[[Denman Island]]
*The southern Gulf Islands are as follows:
**[[Gabriola Island]]
**[[Valdes Island]]
**[[Thetis Island]]
**[[Kuiper Island]]
**[[Saltspring Island]]
**[[Prevost Island]]
**[[Galiano Island]]
**[[Mayne Island]]
**[[North Pender Island]]
**[[South Pender Island]]
**[[Saturna Island]]
**[[Sidney Island]]
**[[James Island (British Columbia)|James Island]]

The [[Gulf Islands]] continue southeast across the [[Haro Straits]] as the [[San Juan Islands]].

=== Howe Sound and Fraser River Islands ===
[[Image:Howe-Sound-map,BC,Canada.png|thumb|300px|Location of Howe Sound in British Columbia.]]

The islands of [[Howe Sound]] are classed among the southern Gulf Islands, but they adjoin the mainland rather than Vancouver Island and are usually considered separately.  They are:
*[[Anvil Island]]
*[[Bowen Island]]
*[[Bowyer Island]]
*[[Gambier Island]]
*[[Keats Island (British Columbia)|Keats Island]]

The islands of the [[Fraser River]] estuary are:
*[[Barnston Island, British Columbia|Barnston Island]] (unincorporated agricultural community)
*[[Lulu Island]] (City of [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]])
*[[Sea Island, British Columbia|Sea Island]] ([[YVR]] Vancouver Airport)
*[[Westham Island]] (wildfowl refuge)
*[[Iona Island, British Columbia|Iona Island]] (Vancouver sewage treatment plant)
*[[Deas Island]] (Hwy 99 tunnel beneath the Fraser)
*[[Annacis Island]]
{{Clear}}

==Coastal communities==

{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
{{Col-start}}
{{Col-2}}
*North Coast
**[[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]]
**[[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]]
**[[Terrace, British Columbia|Terrace]]
**[[Masset, British Columbia|Masset]]
**[[Queen Charlotte City, British Columbia|Queen Charlotte City]]
**[[Kitimat, British Columbia|Kitimat]]
**[[Kemano, British Columbia|Kemano]]
**[[Port Edward, British Columbia|Port Edward]]
**[[Lax Kw'alaams|Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson)]]
**[[Gingolx, British Columbia|Gingolx (Kincolith)]]
**[[Anyox, British Columbia|Anyox]] (ghost town)
*Central Coast
**[[Ocean Falls, British Columbia|Ocean Falls]]
**[[Bella Bella, British Columbia|Bella Bella]]
**[[Waglisla, British Columbia|Waglisla]]
**[[Namu, British Columbia|Namu]]
**[[Rivers Inlet, British Columbia|Rivers Inlet]]
**[[Butedale, British Columbia|Butedale]]
**[[Hartley Bay, British Columbia|Hartley Bay]]
**[[Bella Coola, British Columbia|Bella Coola]]
*Sunshine Coast
**[[Powell River, British Columbia|Powell River]]
**[[Sechelt, British Columbia|Sechelt]]
**[[Madeira Park, British Columbia|Madeira Park]]
**[[Gibsons, British Columbia|Gibsons Landing]]
**[[Earls Cove, British Columbia|Earls Cove]]
**[[Saltery Bay, British Columbia|Saltery Bay]]
**[[Lund, British Columbia|Lund]]
**[[Roberts Creek, British Columbia|Roberts Creek]]
*[[Greater Vancouver]]
*Northern [[Gulf Islands]]:
**[[Whaletown, British Columbia|Whaletown]]  ([[Cortes Island]])
**[[Lasqueti Island]] (no town)
**[[Quadra Island]]
**[[Cortes Island]]
*Southern [[Gulf Islands]]
**[[Saltspring Island]]
***[[Ganges, British Columbia|Ganges]]
***[[Fulford Harbour, British Columbia|Fulford Harbour]]
***[[Vesuvius Bay, British Columbia|Vesuvius Bay]]
**[[Galiano Island]]
**[[Mayne Island]]
**[[Pender Island]]
**[[Saturna Island]]
**[[Gabriola Island]]

{{Col-2}}
*Northern Vancouver Island-Queen Charlotte Strait
**[[Mamalilaculla, British Columbia|Mamalilaculla]]
**[[Alert Bay, British Columbia|Alert Bay]]
**[[Port McNeill, British Columbia|Port McNeill]]
**[[Telegraph Cove, British Columbia|Telegraph Cove]]
**[[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]]
**[[Sointula, British Columbia|Sointula]]
**[[Kelsey Bay, British Columbia|Kelsey Bay]]
**[[Sayward, British Columbia|Sayward]]
*Vancouver Island West Coast
**[[Holberg, British Columbia|Holberg]]
**[[Kyuquot, British Columbia|Kyuquot]]
**[[Gold River, British Columbia|Gold River]]
**[[Port Alice, British Columbia|Port Alice]]
**[[Tofino, British Columbia|Tofino]]
**[[Ucluelet]]
**[[Port Alberni]]
**[[Sarita, British Columbia|Sarita]]
**[[Bamfield, British Columbia|Bamfield]]
**[[Port Renfrew, British Columbia|Port Renfrew]]
**[[River Jordan, British Columbia|River Jordan]]
**[[Tahsis, British Columbia|Tahsis]]
**[[Zeballos, British Columbia|Zeballos]]
*Central Vancouver Island – Strait of Georgia
**[[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]]
**[[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]]-[[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]]
**[[Qualicum Beach, British Columbia|Qualicum Beach]]
**[[Parksville, British Columbia|Parksville]]
**[[Nanaimo]]
**[[Ladysmith, British Columbia|Ladysmith]]
*South Central Vancouver Island
**[[Chemainus, British Columbia|Chemainus]]
**[[Duncan, British Columbia]]
**[[Lake Cowichan]]
**[[Crofton, British Columbia|Crofton]]
**[[Cobble Hill, British Columbia|Cobble Hill]]
**[[Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia|Shawnigan Lake]]
**[[Bamberton, British Columbia|Bamberton]]
**[[Mill Bay, British Columbia|Mill Bay]]
*[[Victoria, British Columbia|Greater Victoria]]
**[[Greater Victoria Core Municipalities]]
***[[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]]
***[[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]
***[[Oak Bay, British Columbia|Oak Bay]]
***[[Esquimalt, British Columbia|Esquimalt]]
**[[Western Communities (British Columbia)|Western Communities]] – Greater Victoria West
***[[Sooke, British Columbia|Sooke]]
***[[Metchosin, British Columbia|Metchosin]]
***[[Langford, British Columbia|Langford]]
***[[Colwood, British Columbia]]
**[[Saanich Peninsula]] – Greater Victoria North
***[[Brentwood Bay, British Columbia|Brentwood Bay]]
***[[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]]
{{Col-end}}

===British Columbia Coastal First Nations===
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast}}

First nation communities are listed south to north.

{{Col-start}}
{{Col-2}}
Lower Mainland and lower Sunshine Coast
*[[Stó:lō]]
*[[Sts'Ailes]] (Chehalis)
*[[Musqueam]]
*[[Tsleil-Waututh]] (Burrard)
*[[Semiahmoo First Nation|Semiahmoo]]
*[[Tsawwassen First Nation|Tsawwassen]]
*[[Squamish people]], [[Squamish, British Columbia|Squamish]] and [[North Vancouver (district municipality)|North Vancouver]]
*[[Shishalh]]&mdash;[[Sechelt, British Columbia|Sechelt]] and lower [[Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)|Sunshine Coast]]

Greater Victoria
*[[T'sou-ke Nation|T'sou-ke]] (Sooke)
*[[Beecher Bay First Nation|Beecher Bay]]
*[[Pauquachin]]
*[[Esquimalt First Nation|Esquimalt]]
*[[Songhees]] (Esquimalt-Victoria)
*[[Tsartlip]] (Saanich Peninsula)
*[[Tsawout]] (Saanich Peninsula)

South Central Vancouver Island
*[[Ditidaht]]
*[[Malahat First Nation|Malahat]]
*[[Cowichan peoples]]
*[[Halalt First Nation|Halalt]]
*[[Penelakut]]
*[[Lyackson First Nation|Lyackson]]

Central Vancouver Island and upper Sunshine Coast
*[[Nanoose First Nation|Nanoose]]
*[[Comox people|Comox]]
**[[K'omoks]] (Island Comox)
**[[Homalhco]] ([[Toba Inlet]]) (Mainland Comox)
**[[Sliammon]] (Malaspina Peninsula/upper [[Sunshine Coast (British Columbia)|Sunshine Coast]]) (Mainland Comox)
**[[Klahoose First Nation]] (Mainland Comox)

Vancouver Island West Coast
*[[Nuu-chah-nulth people|Nuu-chah-nulth]] (West Coast [[Vancouver Island]])
**[[Pacheedaht First Nation|Pacheedaht]]

{{Col-2}}

Northern Vancouver Island and Central Coast
*[[Kwakwaka'wakw]] [[Johnstone Strait]]&mdash;[[Queen Charlotte Strait]]
**[[Laich-kwil-tach|Laich-kwil-tach (Southern Kwakiutl)]]&mdash;(Weiwaikai on [[Quadra Island]] and Weiwaikum in [[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]]), plus the [[Kwiakah First Nation|Kwiakah]]; known historically as the Euclataws or Yucultas
**[[Kwagu'ł]] (Fort Rupert)
**[[Mamalilikala]] (Village Island)
**[['Namgis]] (Nimpkish-Cheslakees, Alert Bay, Nimpkish River)
**[[Ławit'sis]] (Tlowitsis)
**[[A'wa'et'ala]] (Knight Inlet) 	 
**[[Da'naxda'xw]] (Tanakteuk:New Vancouver, Harbledown Island)
**[[Ma'amtagila First Nation]] 
**[[Dzawada'enuxw]] (Tsawataineuk, Kingcome Inlet)
**[[Kwikwasut'inuxw]] (Kwicksutaineuk, Gilford Island) 
**[[Gwawa'enuxw]] (Gwawaenuk –	Hopetown, Watson Island) 
**[[Haxwa'mis]] (Ah-kwa-mish – Wakeman Sound) 
**[['Nak'waxda'xw]]Nakoaktok –  Blunden Harbour)
**[[Gwa'sala]] (Smith Inlet)
**[[Gusgimukw]] (Koskimo – Quatsino Sound)
**[[Gwat'sinuxw]] (Quatsino – Winter Harbour, Quatsino Sound)
**[[T'lat'lasikwala]] (Hope Island)
**[[Nahwitti]] (Cape Scott – extinct; see [[Nahwitti (trading site)|Nahwitti]])
*[[Heiltsuk people|Heiltsuk]]
**[[Xaixais]]
*[[Wuikinuxv]] (aka Owekeeno people, [[Rivers Inlet]])
*[[Nuxalk Nation|Nuxálk]] ([[Bella Coola, British Columbia|Bella Coola]] and [[King Island, British Columbia|King Island]])
*[[Tsimshian]]

North Coast and Northwestern British Columbia
*[[Haisla people|Haisla]]
**[[Kitasoo]]
**[[Haisla people|Kitamaat]]
*[[Haida people|Haida]]
*[[Nisga'a]]
*[[Tlingit people|Tlingit]]
{{Col-end}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

==Parks and preserves==
{{See also|List of provincial parks of Mainland British Columbia Coast|List of provincial parks of Vancouver Island}}
{{Col-start}}
{{Col-2}}
*Vancouver Island
**[[Clayoquot Sound]]
***[[Meares Island]]
**[[Broken Islands Group]] (Barclay Sound)
*Georgia Strait-Johnstone Strait
**[[Robson Bight]]
**[[Desolation Sound]]

{{Col-2}}
*Central Coast
**[[Great Bear Rainforest]]
***[[King Island, British Columbia|King Island]]
*North Coast
**[[Kitlope River]]
**[[Khutzeymateen River]]

{{Col-end}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
-->

===Rail===
{{see also|Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia}}
[[File:Eastbound over SCB.jpg|thumb|upright|CPR train traversing the [[Stoney Creek Bridge]]]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Geography|Canada}}
*[[Atlantic Canada]]
*[[British Columbia Interior]]
*[[Pacific Northwest]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Coast of British Columbia}}
*[http://www.nfb.ca/film/intertidal_zone/ Watch the NFB documentary ''The Intertidal Zone'' on BC's coastline]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121010233858/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/coastline.html/ The Atlas of Canada – Coastline and Shoreline]

{{Subdivisions of British Columbia|regions=yes}}
{{British Columbia hydrography}}

[[Category:Coast of British Columbia| 01]]
[[Category:Landforms of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Coasts of Canada]]