Gulf Islands National Park Reserve

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1]
Georgeson Island as viewed from Mayne Island
Location of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island Show map of Vancouver Island Location of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Location of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in Canada Show map of Canada
Location	Capital RD, British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city	Sidney
Coordinates	48°51′2″N 123°26′52″W / 48.85056°N 123.44778°W / 48.85056; -123.44778
Area	36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Established	May 9, 2003
Visitors	28,434 (in 2022–23[2])
Governing body	Parks Canada
Website	parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/gulf

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is a national park located on and around the Gulf Islands in British Columbia, Canada. In the National Parks System Plan, this park provides representation of the Strait of Georgia Lowlands natural region, the only place in Canada with a Mediterranean climate of dry, sunny summers and mild, wet winters, the result of a rain shadow effect from surrounding mountains between the region and the ocean. It has similar dominant vegetation as the Pacific Northwest, such as coastal Douglas-fir, western red cedar, shore pine, Pacific dogwood, bigleaf maple, and red alder, but also contains the northern extent of some of the more drought tolerant trees such as Garry oak and Arbutus. The park was created in 2003 as the fortieth national park. It covers 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi) of area on 16 islands and more than 30 islets, reefs and surrounding waters, making it the sixth smallest national park in Canada.