Island (pop., 2001: 705,000) off southwestern British Columbia, Canada.
It is the largest island (12,079 sq mi [31,285 sq km]) on the Pacific coast of North America. It has several peaks of more than 7,000 ft (2,100 m), as well as several fine harbours. The chief city is Victoria . It was inhabited by coastal Indians for several millennia before it was visited by early Spanish and English explorers, including Capt. George Vancouver and was held by the {{link=Hudson's Bay Co.">Hudson's Bay Co. until it was made a British crown colony in 1849. It united with British Columbia in 1866. The island's main industries include lumbering, fishing, agriculture, and tourism.