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Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is a BC Parks ecological reserve off the southern tip of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada.
| Race Rocks Ecological Reserve | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Metchosin, British Columbia |
| Nearest city | Langford |
| Coordinates | 48°17′56″N 123°31′52″W / 48.299°N 123.531°W |
| Area | 220 ha (540 acres) |
| Designation | Ecological Reserve |
| Established | 1980 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
| Website | BC Parks Race Rocks ER |
Description
editLocated at a narrow part of the Strait, the area covers 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) of ocean, rocks, and reefs, but does not include the small envelope of land with the foghorn and the historic Race Rocks Lighthouse itself. That area is leased by the Canadian 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 haulout area for California and Northern sealions and a birthing rookery for Harbour seals and it is also the most northerly birthing colony on the Pacific Coast of North America for the elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris.[2]
History
editThe idea of protecting Race Rocks came about following a marine science project by the students of Pearson 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 an ecological reserve under joint BC Parks-Pearson College UWC management.[3]
In 2006 and 2007, the Race Rocks Tidal Power Demonstration Project was installed. After a six-year period for experimental research, the tidal energy generator was removed.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
editExternal links
edit- Home page of racerocks.com and racerocks.ca website
- Pearson College UWC
- Images of Race Rocks on Google Earth
- Race Rocks on the Friends of Ecological Reserves website
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