Saturna Island
Encyclopedia
Saturna Island is a mountainous island, about 31 km² in size, in the Southern Gulf Islands
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia , between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada....
chain of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is situated approximately midway between the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
of B.C. and Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, and is the most easterly of the Gulf Islands. It is surrounded on three sides by the Canada/USA border. To the north is Point Roberts, Washington
Point Roberts, Washington
Point Roberts is an unincorporated community in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. It has a post office, with the ZIP code of 98281, whose ZIP Code Tabulation Area had a population of 1,314 at the 2010 census.A geopolitical oddity, Point Roberts is a part of the United States that is not...
, and to the east and south are the San Juan Islands
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
. Saturna has a permanent population of around 350, although that number increases significantly during the busy summer season. Approximately half of the island is in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is the 40th National Park in a system of 43 parks and park reserves across Canada. Located in British Columbia's Gulf Islands, it covers 33 square kilometers over 16 islands. It also includes numerous islets and reef areas....
(GINPR) that was formed in 2003 from existing provincial parks, an Ecological Reserve, and other Crown land http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/gulf.
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 NarváezJosé María Narváez
José María Narváez was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator notable for his work in the Pacific Northwest of present-day Canada. In 1791, as commander of the schooner Santa Saturnina, he led the first European exploration of the Strait of Georgia, including a landing on present-day...
, which together with the longboat of the Spanish naval packet ship
Packet ship
A "packet ship" was originally a vessel employed to carry post office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. In sea transport, a packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers...
San Carlos, explored the island's coast in an excursion under the overall command of Pilot Juan Pantoja y Arriaga in 1791. 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
Dionisio Alcalá Galiano
Dionisio Alcalá Galiano was a Spanish naval officer, cartographer, and explorer. He mapped various coastlines in Europe and the Americas with unprecedented accuracy, using new technology such as chronometers...
in 1792. 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 rugged topography.
Events
- January: Robbie Burns Night Dinner
- May: Spring Pig BBQ
- July: Canada Day Lamb Barbecue
- September: Vineyard Harvest Festival
- November: Fall Pig BBQ
Parks and Beaches
- Gulf Islands National Park ReserveGulf Islands National Park ReserveGulf Islands National Park Reserve is the 40th National Park in a system of 43 parks and park reserves across Canada. Located in British Columbia's Gulf Islands, it covers 33 square kilometers over 16 islands. It also includes numerous islets and reef areas....
provides opportunities for boating, kayaking, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing. At Narvaez Bay, there is a challenging 2.5 km (approx. 1.5hr) trail to the viewpoint at Monarch Head. At Monarch Head there are views of Boundary Pass and the American San Juan IslandsSan Juan IslandsThe San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
. At East Point, swim or sunbathe on the pebble beach, or visit the Foghorn Alarm Building (FAB),a local visitor centre which is run by the Saturna Island Heritage Committee. There are also marine wildlife viewing opportunities at East Point, where one can see harbour seals and sea lions on Boiling Reef, and Dall's porpoise and resident orcas feeding in Boundary Pass. The Lyall Creek trail (2km; approx. 40 mins 1 way) cuts through second growth Douglas-fir forest to a waterfall that feeds into one of the Southern Gulf Island's only salmon-bearing creeks. Scheduled Interpretive Programs provide an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of Lyall Creek, and about past and present efforts to restore this watershed. At 397 metres (1,303 feet) Mt. Warburton Pike is Saturna Island's highest point. At Mt. Warburton Pike there are panoramic views of Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. At Mt. Warburton Pike one can see feral goats, bald eagles, turkey vultures and falcons. At Winter Cove, the 1.5 km loop trail travels through skunk cabbage wetland, spruce-salal upland and salt marsh, before arriving at the turbulent waters of Boat Pass. - Thompson Park. This Community Park has a sand-and-pebble beach which is good for sunbathing or swimming. A grassy field with heritage apple trees is a good place to have a picnic. Amenities at Thompson Park include ample parking, picnic tables and a pit toilet.
Camping
- Gulf Islands National Park ReserveGulf Islands National Park ReserveGulf Islands National Park Reserve is the 40th National Park in a system of 43 parks and park reserves across Canada. Located in British Columbia's Gulf Islands, it covers 33 square kilometers over 16 islands. It also includes numerous islets and reef areas....
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.