Victoria, Canada. Tours, Hotels and prices. Reviews from tourists. Excursions and attractions. Travel photos and videos

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Victoria

Canada, British Columbia

About Victoria

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada, and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from BC's largest city of Vancouver on the mainland. The population Capital Regional District which includes Victoria and 12 adjoining municipalities, is approximately 335 000 persons, that is about half of all population of Vancouver island.
Victoria's geographical position is remarkable that the city is located to the south of 49th parallel dividing Canada and the USA on the western half of continent (for Vancouver island has been made special exception). Thus, Victoria is the most southern city in the west of Canada.

Nature

Victoria has a temperate climate that is usually described as Oceanic or Marine west coast, with mild, damp winters and relatively dry and mild summers.The average temperature is 18—21 °C. The most rainy seasons are the autumn and winter with thirds from 608 mm of annual precipitations; almost no snow in the winter.
Victoria's soils are relatively unleached and less acidic than soils elsewhere on the British Columbia coast. Their thick dark topsoils denoted a high level of fertility which made them valuable for farming until urbanization took over.

Infrastructure

Victoria is considered most "British" city of Canada, this reputation is promoted by a great number of the Englishmen-pensioners who have got over to this warmest city of the country. In the city two-storeyed red London buses are plying, and there are typical small English shops and pubs in the centre. Victoria is known for the attractive quay decorated with flowers on which stands ancient hotel "Empress" where every day at five o'clock p.m. tourists are submited traditional English tea with dry biscuits.
Beacon Hill Park is a 75 ha (200 acre) park located along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait in Victoria, British Columbia. The park is popular both with tourists and locals, and contains a number of amenities including woodland and shoreline trails, a playground, playing fields, a petting zoo, and landscaped gardens.
In the heart of downtown are the British Columbia Legislative Buildings, The Empress Hotel, Victoria Police Department Station Museum, the gothic Christ Church Cathedral, and the Royal British Columbia Museum/IMAX National Geographic Theatre, with large exhibits on local Aboriginal peoples, natural history, and modern history, along with travelling international exhibits. In addition, the heart of downtown also has the Emily Carr House, Royal London Wax Museum, Victoria Bug Zoo, Market Square and the Pacific Undersea Gardens, which showcases marine life of British Columbia. The oldest (and most intact) Chinatown in Canada is located within downtown. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is located close to downtown in the Rockland neighbourhood several city blocks from Craigdarroch Castle built by industrialist James Dunsmuir and Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.