Being from Vancouver, British Columbia, I grew up with a passion for water sports and the Pacific Ocean. The name Pacific is derived from the latin name Mare Pacificum, meaning "peaceful sea." I had never quite understood this until I came to the east coast, where I quickly learned of the drastic difference in the waves and current. The Atlantic Ocean is much rougher than the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean has a history of important migration routes, such as those of the Austronesians (specifically the Polynesians) from the Asian edge of the ocean to Tahiti, then to Hawaii, New Zealand, and much later to Easter Island. Spanish explorer, Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1513) discovered the Pacific ocean in the early 16th century when he crossed the Isthmus of Panama, followed by many other explorers who sailed to places such as the Philippines, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Important trade routes were later established.
The history of Vancouver is based around explorers who traveled by ships. For example, The coastline of Point Grey was first explored in 1791 by José María Narváez of Span, followed by George Vancouver, who also explored the harbour of Burrard Inlet in 1792. George Vancouver named various places British titles, despite the presence of Aboriginal peoples.
Due to Vancouver's location on the Pacific Rim and the western terminus of Canada's transcontinental highway and rail routes, Vancouver is one of Canada's largest industrial centres. The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified, participating in more than $43 billion in trade with more than 90 countries annually. These activities generate $4 billion in gross domestic product and $8.9 billion in economic output. Vancouver is becoming increasingly more populated and is surrounded by coastline and its scenic location.
Greater population and higher density brings the concern of pollution to our community, including our very important oceans, which feed the economy through the Port of Vancouver and the vast diminishing fisheries. On a global scale, the effects of global warming is causing dramatic weather events, which have become very apparent this year. For example, extremely intense windstorms, occurring at hurricane strength, heavy snowfall and extreme high temperatures in the summer and much colder than usual temperatures in the winter. Oceans regulate temperature and weather, especially in maritime regions.
The Pacific Ocean has a history of important migration routes, such as those of the Austronesians (specifically the Polynesians) from the Asian edge of the ocean to Tahiti, then to Hawaii, New Zealand, and much later to Easter Island. Spanish explorer, Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1513) discovered the Pacific ocean in the early 16th century when he crossed the Isthmus of Panama, followed by many other explorers who sailed to places such as the Philippines, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Important trade routes were later established.
The history of Vancouver is based around explorers who traveled by ships. For example, The coastline of Point Grey was first explored in 1791 by José María Narváez of Span, followed by George Vancouver, who also explored the harbour of Burrard Inlet in 1792. George Vancouver named various places British titles, despite the presence of Aboriginal peoples.
Due to Vancouver's location on the Pacific Rim and the western terminus of Canada's transcontinental highway and rail routes, Vancouver is one of Canada's largest industrial centres. The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified, participating in more than $43 billion in trade with more than 90 countries annually. These activities generate $4 billion in gross domestic product and $8.9 billion in economic output. Vancouver is becoming increasingly more populated and is surrounded by coastline and its scenic location.
Greater population and higher density brings the concern of pollution to our community, including our very important oceans, which feed the economy through the Port of Vancouver and the vast diminishing fisheries. On a global scale, the effects of global warming is causing dramatic weather events, which have become very apparent this year. For example, extremely intense windstorms, occurring at hurricane strength, heavy snowfall and extreme high temperatures in the summer and much colder than usual temperatures in the winter. Oceans regulate temperature and weather, especially in maritime regions.
