Saturna Island

Saturna Island is a mountainous island, about 31 square kilometres (12 sq mi) in size, in the Southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated approximately midway between the Lower Mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island, and is the most easterly of the Gulf Islands. It is surrounded on three sides by the Canada–United States border. To the north is Point Roberts, Washington, and to the east and south are the San Juan Islands. Approximately half of the island is in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR) that was formed in 2003 from a gift of ecologically sensitive land by Ulla Ressner and John Fry,[2] existing provincial parks, an Ecological Reserve, and other Crown land. There is also a large First Nations reserve on the island. The island has a permanent population of around 350, although that number increases significantly during the busy summer season.

Saturna Island
South-facing aerial view of Saturna Island
The Southern Gulf Islands, including Saturna
Geography
Coordinates48°47′N 123°09′W
ArchipelagoGulf Islands
Adjacent bodies of waterStrait of Georgia, Boundary Pass
Area31 km2 (12 sq mi)
Highest elevation397 m (1302 ft)
Administration
Canada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Regional DistrictCapital Regional District
Demographics
Population350 [1]

History

The island was first used by indigenous people who called the island "Long Nose," due to the island's long north-eastern tapering shoreline that ends at East Point. The name Saturna comes from the Spanish naval schooner Santa Saturnina ("St. Saturnina") captained by pilot (piloto) José María Narváez, which together with the longboat of the Spanish naval packet ship San Carlos, explored the island's coast in an excursion under the overall command of Pilot Juan Pantoja y Arriaga in 1791.[3] The name was initially applied only to East Point. The contraction to "Saturna" applied to the whole island was first made by Dionisio Alcalá Galiano in 1792.[4] The name is not a corruption. Galiano was familiar with the role of the "Santa Saturnina" in the early exploration of the coast. Why he made the change is not known. The first European settlers came in the 1800s, but the island was slower to develop than the neighbouring Southern Gulf Islands due to its relative isolation and mountainous topography.

East Point is the site where Moby Doll, the first orca ever live-captured for aquarium display, was harpooned in 1964. The Saturna Island Heritage Committee[5] runs a small museum in the former fog alarm building at East Point where visitors can learn about Moby Doll and Saturna's unique history.

The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR) was formed in 2003 from a private gift,[6] existing provincial parks, an Ecological Reserve, and other Crown land.[7]

Attractions

East Point is a place popular for onshore whale watching. The resident J, K and L orca pods pass by almost daily in the summer months, with transient orca visiting year round. Saturna has many species of terrestrial, aerial and aquatic animals. Saturna is a popular destination for geocachers, with approximately 60 caches available on the island. Caches are built and maintained by Parks Canada and the Saturna Ecological Education Centre.

Parks and beaches
East Point Fog Alarm Building and Sandstone formations.

Over half of the island is park, with the majority being the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR).

Narvaez Bay Day Use Area, with a 1 km (0.6 mi) trail down to two beaches, Narvaez Bay and Echo Bay, and a side trail off to Monarch Head, which looks out to Boundary Pass and the San Juan Islands.[8] East Point Day Use Area, with a museum inside the old Fog Alarm Building,[9] an Environment Canada monitoring station, and sandstone shoreline. Lyall Creek trail, which cuts through second generation forest. The trail is approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) long, and takes hikers from near the Haggis Farm bakery on Narvaez Bay Road down to the Sunset Blvd at East Point Road intersection. The nearby creek is one of the only salmon bearing creeks in the Southern Gulf Islands.[10] Mount Warburton Pike viewpoint, which is the tallest mountain in the Outer Gulf Islands. On the very top, there is a communication tower used by a variety of radio and television services, including Chek TV.[11] There are some goat trails running along the ridge that can be hiked. Winter Cove Day Use Area, which has a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands, marshes, and rainforest. At the western end of the park, strong tidal currents rush through Boat Pass, providing a shortcut for small boat operators.[12] Parks other than those part of the GINPR are maintained by The Saturna Island Parks & Recreation Commission. They operate over a dozen beach accesses and picnic areas around the island. In addition, they oversee a large community park, Thomson Park, which includes a pebble beach, a picnic shelter, and a nine hole disc golf course.

Camping
Camping at Narvaez Bay.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve offers 7 walk-in (or kayak-in) backcountry campsites at Narvaez Bay. The trailhead to Narvaez Bay is located at the parking lot at the end of Narvaez Bay Road. There is also a bike rack available for cyclists to lock up their bikes. There is no potable water at Narvaez Bay, and no campfires are permitted, regardless of season.[13]

Two private campgrounds, Breezy Bay Bed & Breakfast's Clifftop Camping and The Lighthouse Pub's Arbutus Point Campground, offer year-round camping. Neither campground permits fires. Both offer access to potable water.

Climate
Climate data for Saturna Island
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)		 15.0
(59.0)		 21.0
(69.8)		 23.0
(73.4)		 28.0
(82.4)		 30.5
(86.9)		 33.0
(91.4)		 31.5
(88.7)		 28.5
(83.3)		 23.0
(73.4)		 15.0
(59.0)		 13.5
(56.3)		 33.0
(91.4)
Average high °C (°F) 6.3
(43.3)		 7.4
(45.3)		 9.5
(49.1)		 12.4
(54.3)		 15.7
(60.3)		 18.4
(65.1)		 21.3
(70.3)		 21.4
(70.5)		 18.7
(65.7)		 12.8
(55.0)		 8.4
(47.1)		 6.2
(43.2)		 13.2
(55.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)		 5.0
(41.0)		 6.6
(43.9)		 9.1
(48.4)		 12.0
(53.6)		 14.5
(58.1)		 17.1
(62.8)		 17.3
(63.1)		 15.1
(59.2)		 10.2
(50.4)		 6.4
(43.5)		 4.3
(39.7)		 10.2
(50.4)
Average low °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)		 2.5
(36.5)		 3.7
(38.7)		 5.7
(42.3)		 8.3
(46.9)		 10.6
(51.1)		 12.8
(55.0)		 13.2
(55.8)		 11.4
(52.5)		 7.6
(45.7)		 4.2
(39.6)		 2.4
(36.3)		 7.1
(44.7)
Record low °C (°F) −10.0
(14.0)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 −6.0
(21.2)		 0.0
(32.0)		 1.0
(33.8)		 5.0
(41.0)		 8.0
(46.4)		 9.0
(48.2)		 5.0
(41.0)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 −9.0
(15.8)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −12.5
(9.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 129.0
(5.08)		 64.6
(2.54)		 65.0
(2.56)		 52.7
(2.07)		 43.4
(1.71)		 37.3
(1.47)		 21.3
(0.84)		 32.9
(1.30)		 29.6
(1.17)		 90.2
(3.55)		 140.1
(5.52)		 106.2
(4.18)		 812.3
(31.99)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 115.4
(4.54)		 59.6
(2.35)		 57.7
(2.27)		 52.7
(2.07)		 43.4
(1.71)		 37.3
(1.47)		 21.3
(0.84)		 32.9
(1.30)		 29.6
(1.17)		 89.7
(3.53)		 134.4
(5.29)		 98.2
(3.87)		 772.2
(30.41)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 13.9
(5.5)		 5.0
(2.0)		 6.7
(2.6)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.5
(0.2)		 5.7
(2.2)		 7.9
(3.1)		 39.7
(15.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 20.3 14.8 17.1 15.2 12.4 10.5 5.9 6.8 7.4 16.3 20.9 19.8 167.4
Average rainy days 18.6 13.9 16.7 15.2 12.4 10.5 5.9 6.8 7.4 16.2 20.5 18.5 162.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 2.6 1.4 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.7 1.9 7.8
Source: Environment Canada[14]

Transportation
M/V Mayne Queen departing Lyall Harbour, on Saturna Island.

Saturna is accessible via BC Ferries,[15] which offers daily sailings from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island and Tsawwassen on the Mainland to Lyall Harbour on Saturna. Daily floatplane service from Vancouver International Airport [16] and downtown Victoria[17] to Lyall Harbour is available. There are a number of excellent anchorages and moorages for private vessels, including Lyall Harbour Government Wharf which is operated by the Capital Regional District's Harbour Commission. In the high season (June–September), the Saturna Shuttle is available at no cost to visitors.

References
  1. "Gulf Islands | Super, Natural BC". Super, Natural BC | British Columbia Travel Information. March 16, 2018.
  2. 1+1 Parks Canada Pares Canada "JUL 26, 2002 Dear Ms. Ressner and Mr. Fry: On behalf of Parks Canada, I would like to express our great appreciation for your recent donation of7.8 hectares of land to Gulf lslands National Park Reserve through the Ecological Gifts Program. We are faced with many challenges in piecing together and managing a national park in the Gulf Islands. As we acquire additional lands, our task is eased somewhat: with more lands protected, our ability to achieve a sustainable and healthy ecosystem as a whole is enhanced. It is through such forward - thinking individuals as yourself - those whose vision of a legacy for future generations inspires them to donate land for protection within a national park - that we can move closer towards our goal. You have set a wonderful example for other Gulf Islanders, and to Canadians. Yours is the first donation of privately held land to the Government of Canada under the Ecological Gifts program - a significant milestone for that program, and something of which you can justifiably be proud. Ron Hamilton Superintendent Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
  3. Blumenthal, Richard W. (2004). The early exploration of inland Washington waters: journals and logs from six expeditions, 1786–1792. McFarland. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7864-1879-4.
  4. Doe, Nick. "Spanish exploration of west coast of Canada 18th — century" (PDF). Gabriola Historical & Museum Society. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  5. "Home". Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  6. 1+1 Parks Canada Pares Canada; Ron Hamilton (Superintendent Gulf Islands National Park Reserve): "On behalf of Parks Canada, I would like to express our great appreciation for your recent donation of 7.8 hectares of land to Gulf lslands National Park Reserve through the Ecological Gifts Program."
  7. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada (March 28, 2017). "index - Gulf Islands National Park Reserve". www.pc.gc.ca.
  8. "GINPR Map". Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  9. Saturna Heritage. "Welcome To The Saturna Heritage Centre | Saturna Heritage". Saturnaheritage.ca. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  10. "Salmon Stream Restoration". Parks Canada- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Parks Canada. September 12, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  11. "Mount Warburton Pike". Wikimapia. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  12. "Gulf Islands National Park Reserve". Parks Canada. Parks Canada. February 24, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. "Parks Canada – Gulf Islands National Park Reserve – Brochures". Pc.gc.ca. May 11, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  14. "Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010 Station Data". Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  15. "Home - BC Ferries - British Columbia Ferry Services Inc". Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  16. "Seair Seaplanes - Flights from Downtown Vancouver Harbour, YVR, Richmond to Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands". Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  17. "Harbour Air Seaplanes". Retrieved January 24, 2016.
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