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San Juan Island


SAN JUAN ISLAND is an American GULF ISLAND lying at the south end of the GEORGIA STRAIT just south of the US border, across HARO STRAIT from the SAANICH PENINSULA. It is the largest (140 sq km) of a group of islands known collectively as the San Juan Islands. It is mainly rural, with the exception of 2 port communities, Friday Harbour and Roche Harbour. San Juan Island was once claimed by the British and was the scene of the infamous PIG WAR between 1859 and 1872, commemorated by a pair of historic sites at opposite ends of the island. It is popular in summer with boaters and other visitors. Ferries reach the island from Anacortes, WA, and from SIDNEY on VANCOUVER ISLAND.