At Miraloma on the Cove, you are surrounded by Sidney's close-knit, booktown atmosphere and the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Just 10 minutes away from the Victoria International Airport and minutes from Victoria, BC, Miraloma on the Cove is your starting point for a myriad of west coast adventures from the serene to the heart-pounding.
About Vancouver Island
- Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada, off Canada's Pacific coast. It is 460 km (285 miles) long and up to 80 km (50 miles) wide.
- Vancouver Island is separated from mainland Canada by the Strait of Georgia, Johnstone Strait and Queen Charlotte Strait. And from the U.S. by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To the west of the island is the Pacific Ocean
- The climate is the mildest in Canada, with temperatures on the coast even in January being usually above 0 °C (32 °F). In summer, maximum temperatures average 21-24 °C (70-75 °F). However, the rain shadow effect of the island's mountains, as well as the mountains of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, creates wide variation in precipitation. The west coast is considerably wetter than the east coast.
- Vancouver Island lies in the temperate rainforest biome. On the southern and eastern portions of the island, this is characterized by Douglas-fir, western red cedar, arbutus, Garry oak, salal, Oregon-grape, and manzanita. This is the heavily populated region of Vancouver Island, and a major area for recreation
- The fauna of Vancouver Island is similar to that found on the mainland coast, with some notable exceptions and additions. For example, grizzly bears, mountain goats, porcupines, moose, skunks, coyotes, and numerous species of small mammals, while plentiful on the mainland, are absent from Vancouver Island. The island does support most of Canada's Roosevelt elk, however, and one species — the Vancouver Island Marmot — is unique to the island
- The island's rivers, lakes, and coastal regions are renowned for their fisheries of trout, salmon, and steelhead
- Vancouver Island's economy outside Victoria is largely dominated by the forestry industry, with tourism and fishing also playing a large role
- There are rapidly expanding vineyards and the island produces wines that outscored some French wines at the St. Catharines Wine Tasting of 2005 in blind evaluations.
- Vancouver Island is only accessible via plane or an excellent ferry system
Currency:
In the event you encounter a financial emergency, your relatives or friends can wire you money in Canada. Funds are paid in Canadian dollars. In addition, many automated teller machine (ATM) cards, such as those on the PLUS or CIRRUS system, can be used throughout Canada to obtain Canadian funds. Try out the Currency Converter.
