From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the small island near
Victoria, B.C.. For other islands with a similar name, see
Discovery
Island.
Discovery Island is located off the eastern
side of Vancouver Island and is viewable from
Ten Mile Point, near
Cadboro Bay, and Oak Bay. Discovery Island
Marine Provincial Park occupies the southern portion of
Discovery Island, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Oak Bay. The
northern portion of the island is part of Discovery Island Indian
Reserve 3, under the control of the Songhees First Nation.
Discovery island was named in 1846 by surveyors in honour of HMS
Discovery, the ship used by 18th-century British
Explorer Captain George
Vancouver to chart the coastline of British Columbia
between 1792 and 1794 (see the Vancouver Expedition). The
adjacent Chatham Islands were
named after his escort ship, HMS Chatham.
The Lighthouse at Sea Bird Point, the eastern
end of Discovery Island, marks the junction of the Haro and Juan
De Fuca Straits. These two straits form the border between Canada and the United States. The
lighthouse was built in 1886 and manned for 110 years before being
fully automated in 1996. Sea Bird Point was named after an American
paddle steamer which caught fire and was run aground in 1858 to
save the lives of the crew.
Designated as a park in 1972, the uninhabited and undeveloped
61-hectare Discovery Island
Marine Provincial Park was once inhabited by First Nations people and
resident lighthouse keepers. The island was once the home of Captain
E.G. Beaumont, who purchased part of the island in 1918. He
died in 1967 after living on Discovery Island with his wife for
nearly half a century. Beaumont owned roughly 160 acres (half) of
Discovery Island, and in his will gave his share of the island to
the province of British Columbia. Beaumont was an avid seaman and
even in his 80's would regularly row his boat from Discovery Island
to Ten Mile Point, where he would go for walks in the woods.
Evidence of the Beaumonts' beautiful home and gardens overlooking
Rudlin Bay can still be seen.
Discovery Island Marine Provincial Park is open year round.
There is a camping fee and services provided from May 1 - September
30. During the off-season, there is no fee and no services. There
are gravel beaches and a few walking and hiking trails along the
shores and through fir and arbutus woodlands. The trail system runs
from the lighthouse on Sea Bird Point to Commodore Point and across
to the western shore of the park. Hikers can ascend the 38-metre
Pandora Hill for improved views of the area and spectacular
sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains.
References
Coordinates: 48°25.4′N 123°14.0′W / 48.4233°N
123.233°W / 48.4233;
-123.233
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