Saanich Peninsula
Saanich Peninsula (
Surrounded by the
Name
Its name in the Saanich dialect, W̱SÁNEĆ, means "raised up" (when referring to people, that term means "emerging people").[1]
Geography and climate
Lying in the rain shadow of both the Vancouver Island Ranges and the Olympic Mountains, Saanich Peninsula is the driest part of Vancouver Island.[citation needed] The driest recording station in the provincial capital city of Victoria averages only 635 millimetres (25 in) of precipitation annually. Precipitation increases from east to west, and from south to north.[citation needed]
The natural
Geology
Many different kinds of bedrock underlie the peninsula. Sandstone is common at the northern end. Granodiorite crops out in many northern and central areas. Amphibolite, diorite, gabbro and quartz diorite are common in the south. Smaller areas of andesite, basalt, chert, dacite and limestone are also found.[citation needed]
History
The region is the historical homeland of certain
Transportation
The peninsula is also the location of the
Cultural institutions
Just north of Elk Lake is the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Butchart Gardens is located just south of the town of Brentwood Bay, which was the original home of a long-established private school of the same name.
Governance
The following municipalities are located on the peninsula. They are part of Greater Victoria and member municipalities of the Capital Regional District/(CRD):
The
The rural community of Willis Point is also located on the peninsula, but is governed via the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.
See also
References
- ^ "BC Geographical Names". apps.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-18.