Canada is an extremely large and diverse country, located at the northern tip of the North American subcontinent. It is the second largest country in the world, with 9,984,670 km² of land area; it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and also northward to the Arctic Ocean.
Throughout this vast expanse, there are many cities, each with its own charm, culture and characteristics; among them Victoria, considered the most western city in Canada, as it is located in the southwest of the province of British Columbia, exactly at the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
Victoria: most western city in Canada
Victoria is the capital of the province of British Columbia, named in honor of Queen Victoria. It is located in the southern part of Vancouver Island, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It has an area of only 19.47 km² and a population of 91,867 inhabitants in the city alone and 397,237 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. In spite of not being the largest city in the whole province, Victoria is one of the cities in Cananda with the largest number of inhabitants, ranking seventh.
This city has a high historical value, due to the fact that it is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, so it keeps an invaluable cultural and historical wealth, still preserved in many of its buildings, monuments and other scenarios. The city over the years has been modernizing, but preserves almost intact its heritage; the beauty of this city and the climate, make it a paradise for lovers of the outdoors.
The city has several green spaces such as parks and gardens, adorned with all kinds of trees, shrubs and flowers; it is therefore nicknamed the “City of Gardens”, some of the most famous gardens are the Butchart Gardens, the rose garden next to the Empress Hotel, the gardens of the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s House on Rockland Road and the Abkahazi Garden on Fairfield Road.
The beautiful rocky shores and sandy beaches offer tourists and locals alike the opportunity to enjoy water activities such as beach fishing, sailing and canoeing, as well as cycling, hiking and nature exploration around the city. Its proximity to the sea and easy access to seafood makes Victoria’s gastronomy a delight, and its diverse population provides a wide range of food options.
In conclusion, Victoria is not only Canada’s westernmost city, but also a place of immense natural beauty, cultural richness and historical importance that everyone should visit.