The capital of British Columbia, Victoria is situated on the southern tip of VANCOUVER ISLAND, about 100 km south of Vancouver. Occupying a peninsular site, Victorians view the bordering JUAN DE FUCA and Haro straits, backed by the Olympic Mountains of Washington to the south and the San Juan Islands to the east, with the majestic, volcanic peak of Mount Baker in the distance. The metropolitan area is characterized by a number of low hills interspersed with relatively flat areas, and is bordered on the west by the fjordlike Saanich Inlet and the richly forested higher elevations of Malahat Ridge and the Sooke Hills.

Greater Victoria comprises the following incorporated areas: the cities of Victoria (pop 73 504, 1996c) and Colwood (13 848), the municipalities of Saanich (101 388), Oak Bay (16 865), Esquimalt (16 151), Central Saanich (14 611), North Saanich (14 611) and Langford (17 515), and the towns of Sidney (10 701) and View Royal (6441).