| Race Rocks Ecological Reserve | |
|---|---|
| Location | Juan de Fuca Electoral Area,Capital Regional District,British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | Metchosin |
| Coordinates | 48°17′56″N123°31′52″W / 48.299°N 123.531°W /48.299; -123.531 |
| Area | 227 ha (560 acres) |
| Designation | Ecological Reserve |
| Established | 1980 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
| Website | Race Rocks Ecological Reserve | BC Parks |
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is aBC Parks ecological reserve 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) off the southern tip ofVancouver Island in theStrait of Juan de Fuca inJuan de Fuca Electoral Area,Capital Regional District,British Columbia,Canada.[2]
Located at a narrow part of the strait, the area covers 2.27 km2 (0.88 sq mi) of which only 0.02 km2 (0.0077 sq mi) is land covering 11 islets.[3] It does not include the small envelope of land with thefoghorn and the historicRace Rocks Lighthouse on Great Race Rock.[4] That area is leased by theCanadian Coast Guard.
Because of the location in a high tidal current area, there is an exceptional variety of marine life to be found, including marine mammals, sea birds, fish, marine invertebrates, and marine algae and sea grass. It is a haul-out area for theCalifornia sea lion (Zalophus californianus) andSteller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) and a birthing rookery forharbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and it is also the most northerly birthing colony on the Pacific coast of North America for theelephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris).[5][6]
The idea of protecting Race Rocks came about following a marine science project by the students ofPearson College UWC under the supervision and guidance of their teachers, Garry Fletcher and Marks McAvity, in 1978. They described an area of great biodiversity and ecological importance. In 1980, the rocks and surrounding areas were protected as anecological reserve under jointBC Parks–Pearson College UWC management.[7]
In 2006 and 2007, theRace Rocks Tidal Power Demonstration Project was installed. After a six-year period for experimental research, the tidal energy generator was removed.[8]
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