subject: Vancouver, British Columbia [print this page] Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia is a busy city located along the western coastline. Vancouver is named for a British explorer who discovered the area around 1790. Vancouver is from the Dutch van Coevorden directly translated of Coevorden, a city located in the Netherlands.
Sawmills were first established in 1867 creating an influx of population. The area known as Gastown in the downtown area was the center of Vancouver. Situated on a busy seaport, Vancouver was technically incorporated in 1886 and began to expand rapidly due to the introduction of the transcontinental railway linked to the city. The seaport became a critical part of trade as it provides routes between Eastern Canada, London and the Orient. At the moment Vancouver's seaport is the largest and busiest port in Canada.
Vancouver is known for its urban, ethnic and modern culture. Nicknamed Hollywood North, the city also provides a strong and popular film industry. The city has also been on the world stage by hosting events and festivals such as the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, the 1986 World Exposition, the 1954 Commonwealth Games and the 1976 United Nations Conference.
Geography Facts
The city is located around the Fraser River and the Burrard Peninsula. The city is comprised of areas of hills and flat surface stretching across 114 square km or 44 square miles. On clear days, Bowen Island west of the city and Vancouver Island west and southwest of the city can be seen. Also, the Northshore mountain peaks provide a panoramic background for the city's skyscape. Mount Baker, a snow-capped volcano, situated in Washington State can be seen on clear days to the southeast. The Strait of Georgia and the Pacific Ocean are the two principal bodies of water around Vancouver. Stanley Park, a park comprising 404.9 hectares (1001 acres) in size is one of Vancouver's most prominent geographic features. The park is home to a lot of attractions, the Seawall and is one of the largest urban parks in North America containing 150 year old forest.
The moderate environment of the city allows for many rain forest type species to flourish. Cedars, alders, maples, Douglas firs and various exotic species of trees can be seen throughout the city and especially in Stanley Park.
Weather conditions
The climate in Vancouver is mentioned as being moderate and Oceanic. During the summer times the city experiences semi-drought conditions receiving little to no precipitation and maintaining average temperatures around 22 C. On July 30, 2009, Vancouver registered its highest temperature at 34.4 C. A standard winter in Vancouver commonly consists of heavy rainfall of up to 1,199 millimetres in some areas and snowfall averaging 48.2 centimetres that generally does not last. On occasion the temperatures will go under freezing in the city but rarely will reach temperatures lower than -10 C.
Vancouver is a city of multiplicity, comprised of various people groups throughout the area. Areas of the city such as Little Italy, Greektown, and Chinatown make up a city of neighbourhoods. Vancouver is furthermore home to a large gay community in the downtown core. The 2006 census documented 52% of the population cite other languages other than English as their first language. The city has a sturdy Chinese representation with one third of Chinese origin. People of British, Irish and German descent are nonetheless some of the largest groups; however, Asian immigrants from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines and other countries in that area have increased rapidly in the last few decades.
