Overview:

is the main body of water in the city, located in the heart of the downtown core. The harbour is home to many popular attractions such as the Parliament Buildings, Victoria's iconic Rainbow Bridge, the world famous Empress Hotel, and the bustling Inner Harbour Marina. A beautiful and relaxing place to explore, the harbour also contains some of the city’s best restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. It is home to a variety of wildlife, from harbour seals and sea otters to cormorants and sea birds. In summertime, you can take part in a wide array of recreational activities, including kayaking, rowing, sailing, and paddle-boarding. The harbour also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including Canada Day activities, Funtastic Fridays, Thursday's Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park, and the annual Victoria Symphony Splash. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Canada
Prominent Features:

• The Inner Harbour of Victoria, British Columbia, is among the most beautiful natural harbours in the world. It is surrounded by the sights of the city, such as Parliament Buildings, Empress Hotel, Mile “0” of the Trans-Canada Highway, and historic Chinatown. • The Inner Harbour boasts several marinas, as well as boat launch and moorage facilities with floating docks. It is home to a variety of operators offering whale watching tours, fishing charters, harbour cruises, and sailing excursions. • Two fantastic floats are located in the Inner Harbour. Fisherman’s Wharf is known for the incredible fishing opportunities it provides. At the other end of the harbour there is Ogden’s Point Breakwater, where residents and visitors can enjoy strolls and beautiful views of the water, the Olympic Mountains, and the Washington State mainland. • Centennial Square is the heart of the Inner Harbour and houses events such as the International Buskers Festival, Symphony Splash, and Dragon Boat Festival. • Children and parents alike love playing in the many sea lions that are found in the harbour from time to time. There is also a population of sea lions located at the also-popular Fisherman's Wharf. • Other popular attractions found in the Inner Harbour of Victoria include the BC Maritime Museum, the Royal BC Museum, Royal London Wax Museum, and Beacon Hill Park. Additionally, there are several historic buildings located throughout the harbour, such as the historic Craigdarroch Castle. This national monument of Canada portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Victoria’s Inner Harbour is a stunning natural port located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. For centuries, people have travelled through the harbour and established settlement around its banks. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the area was home to the Songhees, one of the Coast Salish First Nations. From the Inner Harbour waters they gathered salmon and eulachon, providing a base for their sustenance for more than three thousand years. The harbour itself was first discovered by Captain George Vancouver in 1792 before becoming the centrepiece of the newly established British colonial capital of Vancouver Island, Fort Victoria. By 1848, the area had become a major commercial port, full of European vessels carrying goods from around the world. During the second half of the 19th century, Victoria’s Inner Harbour was an important centre of activity for the city. Fishing and sealing drove the local economy while steamers delivered passengers, goods and supplies to the region. In 1911, the region welcomed the British Empire Games. The hockey arena was built on the harbour’s much-used waterfront, and it has remained an important landmark in the harbour (now known as Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre) ever since. The area continued to sustain Victoria’s economy for most of the 20th century, but over time its role transitioned to act as a centre of tourism. Hotels, gift shops, restaurants, and other attractions were added, drawing millions of visitors annually who come to take in the picturesque scenery, soak up the culture, and explore the harbour full of boats, tugboats, and luxurious yachts. Today, the Inner Harbour remains a major tourist destination and the “go to” destination for events and festivals in the city. Whether visitors come to sail the harbour or take a leisurely stroll, the Inner Harbour continues to anchor the city of Victoria, British Columbia. You must visit one of these historical places in Canada on your Canada tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Victoria Inner Harbour is the largest natural harbour of the southern side of Vancouver Island. 2. It is an important stopover for cruise ships and big ferries on their way to other parts of British Columbia and the United States. 3. The harbour is home to many species of marine life, including seals, sea stars, and sea lions. 4. The harbour is a popular place to kayak, canoe, fish, and birdwatch. 5. The Inner Harbour is also known for its variety of public sculptures, such as the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel’s ‘Chinese Lion Guards’ and the Inner Harbour Frog. 6. The area around the Inner Harbour also contains numerous historical sites, including the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and Royal BC Museum. 7. Every February, the Victoria Inner Harbour hosts the renowned Victoria HarbourCats, a Canadian collegiate wooden baseball bat team. 8. The Victoria Symphony also performs free summer concerts in the harbour's beautiful surroundings. Visit one of the famous monuments of Canada with your friends and family.