Vargas Island Provincial Park

Vargas Island Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Aerial view of Vargas Island Provincial Park
Location	Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city	Tofino
Coordinates	49°10′45″N 126°01′40″W
Area	5,805 ha (22.41 sq mi)
Established	July 13, 1995
Governing body	BC Parks
Website	BC Parks Vargas Island

Vargas Island Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, comprising the west side of the island of the same name, which is located west of Meares Island and northwest of the resort community of Tofino in the Clayoquot Sound region of the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The park was created as part of the Clayoquot Land-Use Decision on July 13, 1995 and contains 5,805 hectares (14,340 acres), 1,543 hectares (3,810 acres) of it being upland and 4,262 hectares (10,530 acres) being foreshore. Also located on Vargas Island, on its north side, is Epper Passage Provincial Park.

This island is home to the mammalian species of black bear, cougar, and wolf. There is some concern about wolves in the parks becoming habituated, after two wolves had to be killed because of their attack on a male sleeping camper on July 2, 2000. For both human safety and the future of the wolf population in Clayoquot Sound, food must be stored out of reach of wildlife and animals must not be approached or fed by visitors.

The island is apparently named for Diego de Vargas, who regained New Mexico for Spain in 1693–94.

See also

• Flores Island Marine Provincial Park
• Hesquiat Peninsula Provincial Park

References

• "Vargas Island Park". BC Geographical Names.