|
|
Victoria city,
capital of British Columbia, SW Canada, on Vancouver Island and Juan de Fuca
Strait. It is the largest city on the island and its major port and business
center.
In
addition to its importance as the seat of provincial government,
Victoria is noted as a residential city because of its mild climate,
beautiful scenery, many parks (including Beacon Hill Park) and
drives.
Victoria is also a popular center for American and Canadian
tourists. It has sawmills and woodworking plants, fish-processing
factories, grain elevators, and cold-storage plants.
Victoria is the base of a deep-sea fishing fleet; a large naval
installation is nearby. Founded (1843) as Fort Camosun, a Hudson's
Bay Company post, the city was later called Fort Victoria.
When Vancouver Island became a crown colony, a town was laid out on
the site (1851-52), named Victoria, and made the capital of the
colony.
|
With the discovery (1858) of gold on the British Columbia mainland,
Victoria became the port, supply base, and outfitting center for
miners on their way to the Cariboo gold fields. In 1866, when the
island was administratively united with the mainland, Victoria
remained the capital of the colony and became the provincial capital
in 1871. It is the seat of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
and the University of Victoria. |
Canada brief history
Topography
Climate
Forestry
Mining
Economy
Nunaut
Territory
Ethnic
Groups
Languages
Canada - US
Border
Fishing
Canada Transportation
Tourism and Recreation
Alberta
Edmonton City
Fort
Ile-aux-Noix
Calgary
Vancouver Island
British
Columbia
ictoria
Nootka Sound
Yukon river
Manitoba
Auyuittuq National Park
Akshayuk Pass |
|
